Derek Riches
Sir Derek Riches | |
|---|---|
| British Ambassador to Lebanon | |
| In office 1963–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Moore Crosthwaite |
| Succeeded by | Cecil King |
| British Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo | |
| In office 1961–1963 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Dixon Scott |
| Succeeded by | Michael Rose |
| British Ambassador to Libya | |
| In office 1959–1961 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Graham |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 July 1912 |
| Died | 1 October 1997 (aged 85) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Sir Derek Martin Hurry Riches (26 July 1912 – 1 October 1997) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to Libya from 1959 to 1961; ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1961 to 1963; and ambassador to Lebanon from 1963 to 1967.
Early life and education
Riches was born on 26 July 1912 in Caerphilly, Wales, the son of Claud Riches, a senior banker and Flora Martin. He was educated at University College School, Hampstead and University College London where he took a degree in economics.[1][2]
Career
Riches joined the Levant Consular Service in 1934,[3] and was appointed a probationer vice-consul at Beirut. After postings in Cairo[4] and Ethiopia where he was attached to the Allied Military Government in Occupied Territories, he worked at the Foreign Office where he was promoted to consul serving in the Foreign Office in 1945. He then served at Kabul in 1948 and as consul at Jeddah in 1951 and chargé d’affaires there in 1952.[5] After serving as trade commissioner at Khartoum in 1953, he was sent on furlough to the Imperial Defence College in 1955, before he returned later that year to the Foreign Office, first as counsellor and head of the Eastern Department and then head of the Arabian Department.[1][2][6]
Riches served as ambassador to Libya from 1959 to 1961.[7] He was then ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1961 to 1963 arriving during the turmoil of the Congo Crisis after independence from Belgium.[8] He then served as ambassador to Lebanon from 1963 until 1967 when he was expelled from the country as Arab leaders reacted to the Israeli victory in the Six-Day War accusing the US and UK of providing assistance to Israel.[9] Six months later, he retired from the service at the age of only 55 to the surprise of many of his colleagues.[1][2][6]
In retirement Riches was foreign affairs adviser at the Conservative Central Office and was on the editorial board of the Journal of the Royal Society of Asian Affairs.[2]
Personal life and death
Riches married American Helen Barkley Hayes in 1942 and they had a daughter.[1][2]
Riches died on 1 October 1997, aged 85.[2]
Honours
Riches was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1958 New Years Honours,[10] and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1963 New Year Honours.[11]
See also
- Lebanon–United Kingdom relations
- Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations
- Libya–United Kingdom relations
References
- ^ a b c d "Riches, Sir Derek (Martin Hurry), (26 July 1912–1 Oct. 1997), HM Diplomatic Service, retired; Ambassador to Lebanon, 1963–67", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u181440, retrieved 3 November 2025
- ^ a b c d e f "Sir Derek Riches". The Times. 21 October 1997. p. 23.
- ^ "No. 34103". The London Gazette. 9 November 1934. p. 7171.
- ^ "No. 34711". The London Gazette. 17 October 1939. p. 34711.
- ^ "No. 39632". The London Gazette. 26 August 1952. p. 4540.
- ^ a b Colin Mackie (2013). A Directory of British Diplomats [2013]. p. 417.
- ^ "No. 41748". The London Gazette. 23 June 1959. p. 41748.
- ^ "No. 42519". The London Gazette. 21 November 1961. p. 8445.
- ^ "No. 43093". The London Gazette. 27 August 1963. p. 7201.
- ^ "No. 41268". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1958. p. 5.
- ^ "No. 42870". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1963. p. 5.