Background
Born into a family with a military tradition, Durie grew up in Scotland.
Born into a family with a military tradition, Durie grew up in Scotland.
Together with his twin brother Ian (1944–2005) Durie was educated at Fettes College.
He read Natural Sciences at the University of Oxford. Durie joined the Ministry of Technology in 1966 before going on to work in various posts at the Organization of European Cooperation and Development, the Cabinet Office and the Department of Trade and Industry. In 1991 be became Minister and Deputy United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Community in Brussels and in 1995 he returned to the Department of Trade and Industry before leaving the Home Civil Service in 2000.
He served as Governor of Gibraltar from 2000 to 2003.
He is currently Vice Chairman of the Governors of The Queen"s School, Kew.