On Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service - review & interview with the Author

 I was sent On Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service by Sir Michael Burton at the start of October this year and quite frankly I feel it should be on everyone’s Christmas wish list!

 

From a conversation with his father “Mike You’re good at languages” “Yes” “That means you go into the Diplomatic service” Sir Michael ended up becoming a diplomat “working for the Queen & this country”

 

First started in 2011 Sir Michael’s fascinating memoir takes us through his life, wartime childhood and school days and family life in a wonderful vibrant tale allowing to see British Diplomacy in the real world and while allowing us a look at how the British government runs. He takes us through his assignments from the Arab world through to Germany in his time there as the “wall fell” and the details and incredible negotiations to create a unified Germany. We see interactions with four prime ministers, an American president, an Arab king and a master Soviet spy! We also get a gorgeous look at Royal Visits and view our Queens soft power in action!

 

This book is fascinating, honest and draws you into a world so many of us will never be able to participate in. It is full of pictures, enjoyable to read and would make a fabulous, enjoyable, and pleasurable Christmas present.

 

I had the immense pleasure of being able to ask Sir Michael some interview questions. What an incredible and interesting man!

 

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

 

Not really. It is, after all, my own story, and should be judged as such. But I did, some years

ago, think of writing up some of the stories in novel form – and then decided that it would

be too hard!

 

Did you find the book difficult to write?

 

Yes. I found it difficult to find the right balance between recounting what I was doing –

against the particular political background in each of the countries I served in – and

leavening this with some personal interest stories, in order to hold the reader’s interest. I

also had to make the book as factually accurate as I could, given that I kept no diaries.

Fortunately I did have some key documents to help me, such as the report I wrote in 1963

on the tribal dispute I found myself dealing with on my first posting in the old Trucial States

in the Gulf – which I managed to find among Foreign Office records in the National Archives.

 

Would you recommend the diplomatic service as a career these days?

 

I find this question quite difficult to answer. I think the role of the diplomat has never been

more important - as the government’s source of targeted information and advice from

around the world – at a time when Britain, having left the European Union, is searching for a

new role. And there remains the enduring fascination of living and working in other

countries, learning about their language and culture and meeting their people. It is also true

that the life can be pretty comfortable, although a number of posts have become noticeably

harder in recent years (such as in the Middle East, where I served for many years).

On the other hand, some aspects of the job, that were already apparent in my day, have

changed, in my view, for the worse. For example, communication between London and

overseas posts has become instantaneous, as well as media news reporting, so that anyone

back home can claim to be an instant expert on events, and pay less attention to the

considered advice from embassies. Also, the Freedom of Information Act, and the general

trend towards greater transparency, have meant that diplomats are more constrained in

offering objective advice if there is a risk of it leaking to the media and being used to

embarrass the government.

When the strains on family life are added in, I think the diplomatic career is becoming less

attractive – although I find that many able young people are still coming into it. Perhaps the

answer is that it is great for younger officers, but may not offer a rewarding full-length

career of the kind that I enjoyed!

 

 

Were there any stories which were too juicy to be included in the book?

 

Yes, there were. But I’m not inclined towards full exposure now! Sorry to disappoint you.

Freedom of Information no longer applies after retirement!

 

Where can we get the book?

 

It can be ordered through any good book-seller, or on Amazon. It makes the ideal Christmas

present!