This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Annabel and I recently took ourselves off to see a wonderful talk given at Phyliss Court (Henley-On-Thames) by Sir Alan Munro KCMG on his life in the diplomatic service, filled with hilariously gripping stories which I’m sure he has been dying to spill for decades, Sir Alan’s address gave a rare glimpse into a world which very few of us will ever experience, least of all Annabel and I!!
His latest book “KEEP THE FLAG FLYING a Diplomatic Memoir ” is the intelligently humorous chronicle of Sir Alan’s extraordinary life as Consul-General in Rio de Janeiro 1974-77, Head of East African Dept FCO 1977-78, Head of Middle East Dept 1979, Head of Personnel Operations Dept 1979-81, Dir of Middle East Defence Sales MOD 1981-83, Ambassador to Algeria 1984-87, Deputy Under Secretary of State FCO 1987-89, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia 1989-93; Vice-chairman Bd British Red Cross 1994-2002, Advisor Tate & Lyle plc, Non-exec director Middle East International Ltd, Dir Schroder Asseily Ltd 1993-2003; Vice-chairman Arab-Br C of C; chm: Beit Tst for Central Africa, Red Cross Order of St John Ctee, Saudi-Br Soc, Soc for Algerian Studies; MIPM……..
Get my drift???
Well, suffice to say that I bought the book on the spot, couldn’t resist his charms and I cannot recommend it highly enough, I laughed out loud more than once and you never know I might have even learnt an historical fact or two for once!
Thank you for a great read Sir Alan!
Other books by the same author are: ARAB STORM and AN ARABIAN AFFAIR.