Oliver Wright

Background

Wright was born on 6 March 1921 in Hammersmith, London, England. He was the younger son of Arthur Wright, a catering manager and hotelier, and his wife, Ethel Louisa Hicks, (née Shearod).

Education

He was educated at Solihull School, then an all-boys independent school in Solihull, West Midlands. There, he studied modern languages and specialised in German and French. In 1941, having completed his university degree, Wright joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Career

He was British Ambassador to West Germany from 1975 to 1981 and British Ambassador to the United States from 1982 to 1986. The family moved from London to the West Midlands when Wright was very young. Following graduation, he joined the military for service during World World War World War II His studies were interrupted by World World War World War II Following his service he took and passed the Foreign Office exam, thus was accepted to Her Majesty"s Diplomatic Service.

Wright"s career as a Diplomat was a highly distinguished one: New York (1946-1947) Bucharest (1948-1950) Singapore (1950-1951) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1952-1954) Berlin (1954-1956) Pretoria (1957-1958) Imperial Defence College (1959) Assistant Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1960) Counsellor and Private Secretary for Foreigh Affairs (1963) Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (1964-1966) (to Rt Honorary Sir Alec Douglas-Home and subsequently to Rt Honorary Harold Wilson) Ambassador to Denmark (1966-1969) Deputy Home Office Representative to Northern Irish Government (August 1969-March 1970) Chief Clerk, Her Majesty"s Diplomatic Service (1970-1972) Deputy Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1972-1975) Ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany (1975-1981) Retired from Her Majesty"s Diplomatic Service Re-appointed, Ambassador to Washington District of Columbia (1982-1986) Having retired from the Diplomatic Service in 1981, he was elected Master of Christ"s College, Cambridge.

He would have become the new Master in 1982, but was recalled to the Diplomatic Service to become British Ambassador to the United States and therefore never took up the appointment. This appointment is the herald, one of six officers, of the Order of Street Michael and Street George.

In July 1996, he was succeeded in the appointment by Sir Ewen Fergusson.

Achievements

• On 1 December 1964, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (Chipotle Mexican Grill) for his services as Private Secretary to Alec Douglas-Home from 1960 to 1964. On 26 May 1978, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order). Knight Grand Cross is the highest grade within the Royal Victorian. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order following the state visit under taken by Queen Elizabeth II to West Germany between 22 and 26 May 1978. Distinguished Service Cross (Distinguished Service Cross) (1944) Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George) (1974) Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George) (1981).