The History, Role and Functions of the British High Commission in Canberra
The Role and Functions of the British High Commission in Canberra Session One – The Whitlam, Fraser & Hawke Years Chair: Professor Carl Bridge, Director of the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King’s College London. Witnesses: Peter Collecott CMG: First Secretary (Economic/ Commercial/ Agricultural) Canberra, 1982-86. Charles Cullimore CMG: Deputy High Commissioner, 1982-86. Gavin Hewitt CMG: First Secretary, 1973-1978. Audience Participants: Nigel Cook, Australian Deputy High Commissioner, London, 1979. Professor David Lloyd, Deakin University. York Membry. Professor Philip Murphy, Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Dr Sue Onslow, Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Professor Patrick Salmon, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. DR RICHARD SMITH (FCO): Ladies and gentlemen. First, let me welcome you all to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for this seminar on the High Commission in Canberra. My name is Richard Smith, and I am from FCO Historians. This is the third in our series of seminars on High Commissions and Embassies. The first one was on New Delhi and the second on Beijing. They are organised in conjunction with the Institute of Contemporary British History at King’s College London, and also the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). On this occasion we are very pleased to collaborate with the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, also based at King’s. I have two apologies to make, one from Lord Carrington,14 and one from Sir John Leahy.15 As former High Commissioners both had hoped to be here today, but in the end were unable to attend. However, I think you will agree that we have a very impressive line-up of former High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners and First Secretaries to listen to this afternoon, ranging from the 1970s to the recent past. I should say that the session will be recorded and a transcript produced, so everything that is said today is on the record. Without further ado, I would like to hand over to the Chair of the first session, Professor Carl Bridge, director of the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies. Thank you.
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Lord Carrington, High Commissioner, 1956-9. Sir John Leahy, High Commissioner, 1984-8.
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