John Wilton (British diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur John Wilton KCMG KCVO MC
(21 October 1921 – 12 June 2011), known as John Wilton, was a British diplomat who was Ambassador to Kuwait (1970 - 1974) and to Saudi Arabia (1976–1979).
Wilton was born on 21 October 1921, the son of Walter and Annetta Wilton. He was educated at Wanstead High School
, winning an Open Scholarship to St John's College, Oxford
in 1940. In 1942 he was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles
, and served with the Irish Brigade in North Africa, Italy and Austria between 1943 and 1946. He was awarded the Military Cross
and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded a War-time MA (first class Honours) from the University of Oxford
on the basis of the time spent at Oxford and on war service.
He entered HM Diplomatic Service in 1947, with postings in Lebanon, Egypt, Gulf Shaikdoms (including the post of the first Political Officer resident in Doha, Qatar, Aug 1949-Jul 1950), Yugoslavia and Roumania. He was Director of the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies in Lebanon from 1960-1965, Deputy High Commissioner in Aden 1966-1967, Ambassador to Kuwait 1970-1974, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1974-1976, and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia 1976-1979. He was also Director of the London House for Overseas Graduates 1979-1986 and Chairman of the Arab-British Centre 1981-1986.
After he retired to Devon, he was President of the Plymouth branch of the English Speaking Union (from 1991) and a Trustee of the Arab-British Chamber Charitable Foundation (from 1989), churchwarden of St. Maurice’s Church, Plympton, Devon and chairman of the charity Call South West. He was awarded an Honorary LLD in 1986 by New England College
, New Hampshire, USA.
Wilton died suddenly on 12 June 2011, aged 89. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Maureen, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(21 October 1921 – 12 June 2011), known as John Wilton, was a British diplomat who was Ambassador to Kuwait (1970 - 1974) and to Saudi Arabia (1976–1979).
Wilton was born on 21 October 1921, the son of Walter and Annetta Wilton. He was educated at Wanstead High School
Wanstead High School
Wanstead High School , formerly Wanstead County High School, is a co-educational, non-denominational, comprehensive high school in Wanstead, London, United Kingdom.-Admissions:...
, winning an Open Scholarship to St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
in 1940. In 1942 he was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles
Royal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
, and served with the Irish Brigade in North Africa, Italy and Austria between 1943 and 1946. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded a War-time MA (first class Honours) from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
on the basis of the time spent at Oxford and on war service.
He entered HM Diplomatic Service in 1947, with postings in Lebanon, Egypt, Gulf Shaikdoms (including the post of the first Political Officer resident in Doha, Qatar, Aug 1949-Jul 1950), Yugoslavia and Roumania. He was Director of the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies in Lebanon from 1960-1965, Deputy High Commissioner in Aden 1966-1967, Ambassador to Kuwait 1970-1974, Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1974-1976, and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia 1976-1979. He was also Director of the London House for Overseas Graduates 1979-1986 and Chairman of the Arab-British Centre 1981-1986.
After he retired to Devon, he was President of the Plymouth branch of the English Speaking Union (from 1991) and a Trustee of the Arab-British Chamber Charitable Foundation (from 1989), churchwarden of St. Maurice’s Church, Plympton, Devon and chairman of the charity Call South West. He was awarded an Honorary LLD in 1986 by New England College
New England College
New England College is a private four-year college in Henniker, New Hampshire, enrolling a total of approximately 1800 undergraduate and graduate students.-History:The school was created in 1946 for students attending college on the G.I...
, New Hampshire, USA.
Wilton died suddenly on 12 June 2011, aged 89. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Maureen, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.