Richard Fell
Encyclopedia
Richard Taylor Fell CVO
(born 11 November 1948) was the British
High Commissioner to New Zealand
and the colonial
Governor
of the Pitcairn, Henderson
, Ducie
and Oeno
Islands (of which only Pitcairn is inhabited) from 2001 to 2006.
He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO) in 1971, after completing an MA
in Area Studies (1971) at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
, University of London
, serving in the South Asian Department. His first international post was a two-year stint in Ottawa
, Canada
, as 3rd Secretary. Since then he has served in Saigon (1974-1975, as 2nd Secretary), Vientiane
(1975 on temporary duty), Hanoi
(1979 as Chargé d'Affaires
), Brussels
(1979-1983, as a 1st Secretary with United Kingdom
Delegation to NATO), Kuala Lumpur
(1983-1986 as Head of Chancery), and Ottawa
1989-1993 as Counsellor
, Economic/Commercial. He was Deputy Head of Mission
in Bangkok
1993-1996, and Consul-General in Toronto
in 2000.
He was in the Southern European Department of the FCO 1975-1976, and the Central and Southern African Department 1977-1978, as Assistant, South East Asian Department 1986-1988. In 1988-1989 he was on loan to industry, and 1996-1997 at the FCO on the Whitehall Scrutiny Review of Commercial Services. In 1997-2000 he was Head of Personnel Services Department. He spent 2000-2001 at the Royal College of Defence Studies
.
Fell is widely disliked in the Pitcairn Islands because of his dismissal of Commissioner
Leon Salt, the British government's decision to staff Pitcairn with several outside police officers and social workers, and his office's handling of a sex abuse scandal
. Six of the seven men accused were convicted, with four of them sentenced to prison terms, but currently remain free on bail, pending an appeal to the Privy Council
. Islanders fear that if the four (a third of the adult male population) are imprisoned, that may force the evacuation of Pitcairn, which has been successfully inhabited since 1790, due to lack of self-sufficiency. Another cause of resentment is that during Fell's term regular ship service to the island, which brought in much-needed revenue, was ended.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born 11 November 1948) was the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
High Commissioner to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the colonial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Governor
Governor of the Pitcairn Islands
The Governor of the Pitcairn Islands is the representative of the British crown in the Pitcairn Islands, which are the last remaining British territory in the Pacific Ocean...
of the Pitcairn, Henderson
Henderson Island (Pitcairn Islands)
Henderson Island is an uninhabited raised coral atoll in the south Pacific Ocean, that in 1902 was annexed to the Pitcairn Islands colony, a South Pacific Dependent Territory of the United Kingdom. Measuring long and wide, it has an area of and is located northeast of Pitcairn Island at . The...
, Ducie
Ducie Island
Ducie Island is an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Islands. It lies east of Pitcairn and has a total area of , which includes the lagoon. It is long, measured northeast to southwest, and about wide. The island is composed of four islets: Acadia, Pandora, Westward and Edwards.Despite its...
and Oeno
Oeno Island
Oeno Island or Holiday Island is a coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, part of the Pitcairn Islands overseas territory.-Geography:...
Islands (of which only Pitcairn is inhabited) from 2001 to 2006.
He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
(FCO) in 1971, after completing an MA
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Area Studies (1971) at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, serving in the South Asian Department. His first international post was a two-year stint in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as 3rd Secretary. Since then he has served in Saigon (1974-1975, as 2nd Secretary), Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
(1975 on temporary duty), Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
(1979 as Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
), Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(1979-1983, as a 1st Secretary with United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Delegation to NATO), Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
(1983-1986 as Head of Chancery), and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
1989-1993 as Counsellor
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
, Economic/Commercial. He was Deputy Head of Mission
Head of Mission
In diplomatic usage, Head of Mission or Chief of Mission from the French "Chef de Mission Diplomatique" is the generic term used to refer to the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an Ambassador, High Commissioner, Nuncio, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Representative, and sometimes to a...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
1993-1996, and Consul-General in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 2000.
He was in the Southern European Department of the FCO 1975-1976, and the Central and Southern African Department 1977-1978, as Assistant, South East Asian Department 1986-1988. In 1988-1989 he was on loan to industry, and 1996-1997 at the FCO on the Whitehall Scrutiny Review of Commercial Services. In 1997-2000 he was Head of Personnel Services Department. He spent 2000-2001 at the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
.
Fell is widely disliked in the Pitcairn Islands because of his dismissal of Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
Leon Salt, the British government's decision to staff Pitcairn with several outside police officers and social workers, and his office's handling of a sex abuse scandal
Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...
. Six of the seven men accused were convicted, with four of them sentenced to prison terms, but currently remain free on bail, pending an appeal to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. Islanders fear that if the four (a third of the adult male population) are imprisoned, that may force the evacuation of Pitcairn, which has been successfully inhabited since 1790, due to lack of self-sufficiency. Another cause of resentment is that during Fell's term regular ship service to the island, which brought in much-needed revenue, was ended.