Andrew Sparkes

Andrew James Sparkes was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, Manchester Grammar School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He taught English in Japan 1981–82, then joined the Diplomatic Service. In his early career he served at Ankara, Bangkok, Jakarta and on secondment to the then Department of Trade and Industry.

Sparkes was Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa (and Consul-General for Johannesburg and Pretoria) 2001–04, Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo 2004–07, and Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo 2008–10. In 2010 he was seconded to the European Union as Deputy Head of the largest EU civilian mission in the world, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. In 2013 he was appointed ambassador to Nepal.[http://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majesty-s-ambassador-to-nepal Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Nepal], Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 16 January 2013

In 2014 Sparkes caused a diplomatic row after he sent an open letter to Constituent Assembly members on the occasion of Human Rights Day, at a time when the new Constitution of Nepal was being debated. His letter included the phrase "We encourage you to ensure that the right to change religion is protected ..."{{cite news |url=http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=88247 |title=Letter to sabhasad-jyus |date=10 December 2014 |newspaper=myRepública |location=Kathmandu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215233555/http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=88247 |archive-date=15 December 2014}} Hindu conservatives seized on it as "evidence of a Western conspiracy to spread Christianity in Nepal."{{cite news |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/2156198/how-india-and-china-are-keeping-west-out-nepal |title=How India and China are keeping the West out in Nepal |newspaper=South China Morning Post |date=21 July 2018}} Nepal's Foreign Minister, Pradip Kumar Gyawali however said, “We have proof that the relief package given to earthquake victims by some donors and NGOs also carried Bible and related literature,” in relation to humanitarian aid provided to the country in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Sparkes resigned from the Diplomatic Service in April 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphnepal.com/headline/2015-04-22/john-rankin-is-uk-head-of-mission-in-nepal |title=John Rankin is UK Head of Mission in Nepal |newspaper=Telegraph Nepal |date=22 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120719/http://www.telegraphnepal.com/headline/2015-04-22/john-rankin-is-uk-head-of-mission-in-nepal |archive-date=4 March 2016}} Since 2016 he has been a senior fellow (teacher) at Winchester College and a member of council of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs.

Sparkes was appointed CMG in the 2007 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=58358 |supp=y |page=3 |date=16 June 2007}}

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• [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-42009;jsessionid=DB84CE86BC668BB24C691554BCC9E451 Sparkes, Andrew James], Who's Who 2018
• [http://www.gov.uk/government/people/andrew-james-sparkes-cmg Andrew James Sparkes CMG], gov.uk

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{{S-ttl |title=Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal |years=2013–2015}}

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham

Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School

Category:Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Kosovo

Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Nepal

Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Teachers at Winchester College