Former diplomat, active on foreign policy in Lords. Vice-Chair RUSI, Hon Pres Normandy Memorial, Special Envoy for the Bayeux Tapestry loan. Pop up on media a bit. New book Peace Makers out 7 May. https://geni.us/PeaceMakers
Peter Ricketts
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Ken Hay, 100, 4th Dorset Regiment, with Alexander Churchill, 11, great great grandson and youth Ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial at our DDay service today. One of the main aims of the Memorial is to transmit the memory of what the heroes of 1944 fought for and why to the next generation.
Thank you to John Healey and Lord (Vernon) Coaker for your presence at DDay82 at the British Normandy Memorial. We honoured the memory of Lord Coaker’s uncle, Sgt Vernon Coaker, killed on 6 June 1944 at the age of 23, and that of all his comrades who fell under British command in the 1944 battles.
Thanks @kimwillsher.bsky.social for quoting me! It was a light-hearted way of starting my speech - but the lurking suspicion that perfidious Albion will hang on to the Tapestry is one I hear a lot in France, so it wasn’t altogether a joke!
In 1940 as the Panzers rolled in and the Embassy decamped to Tours, Maclean inconveniently married his pregnant girlfriend, Melinda Marling (who later left him for Philby). We also see him in Washington on his best behaviour having junior staff for Sunday lunch, while spewing secrets to Moscow.
Credit for this wonderful image goes to the super talented Florence Marsac
Same here. Much looking to the Borders Books Festival, to chatting with Gavin about my book, catching up with @helenebismarck.bsky.social and, especially, reading her book. Her analysis of the UK as a candid friend who knows us very well and is also a sharp observer will be fascinating. Can’t wait!
DM figures in Peace Makers as a young diplomat in Paris. Personnel Dept sent him in 1938 with this toe-curling comment.’He is a very nice individual indeed and has plenty of brains and keenness. He is nice looking and ought, we think, to be a success from a social as well as work point of view.’ 1/2
Excited to get my copy and can’t wait to read the views of a critical friend of (and no stranger to) Britain. Love the cover too! @helenebismarck.bsky.social
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Great fun talking to Rosie Wright on Times Radio this morning about what is happening behind the scenes to bring the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK while taking every possible precaution to ensure it arrives safe and sound. With the tie to match! Full interview at 0620. www.youtube.com/shorts/_TFzm...
