Sir David Norman Reddaway {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCMG|MBE}} (born 26 April 1953) is a retired British diplomat who was High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Ireland and Turkey.[http://www.professionaljeweller.com/the-goldsmiths-company-appoints-sir-david-reddaway-as-new-clerk/ The Goldsmiths’ Company appoints Sir David Reddaway as new clerk]

Career

Reddaway was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where his father, Norman Reddaway, also a British diplomat, was posted at the time. He attended King's College School, Cambridge{{Cite book|title=A History of King's College Choir School Cambridge|author=Henderson, RJ|year=1981|ISBN=978-0950752808}} and Oundle School,[http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/our-offices-in-turkey/our-ambasador/career-history The British Embassy in Turkey Career history]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} then studied History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where his grandfather, the historian William Fiddian Reddaway, had served as Censor.[http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-173 David Reddaway honoured] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007000943/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-173 |date=7 October 2013 }} — Fitzwilliam College news article, 23 July 2013{{efn |Between 1869 and 1966 Fitzwilliam Hall/House/College did not appoint a "Master". Many of the supervisory and disciplinary responsibilities conferred by other Oxbridge colleges on a "Master" were instead allocated to an individual identified, at Fitzwilliam, as the "Censor".}} He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1975. His career has included assignments to Iran (during the Iranian revolution), India, Spain, Argentina and Afghanistan.

In 2002, his appointment as British ambassador to Iran was rejected by the Iranian government, with some Iranian newspapers incorrectly accusing him of being "a Jew and a member of MI6".[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1808235.stm Rejection threatens UK-Iran detente] — BBC News article, 8 February 2002 He speaks fluent Persian.

He served as High Commissioner to Canada between 2003 and 2006. In 2006 he was appointed the British Ambassador to Ireland[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029395231&a=Collection&aid=1013618515557 Foreign and Commonwealth Office] and [http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1182952078161 British Embassy Website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810022857/http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1182952078161 |date=10 August 2008 }} and presented his diplomatic credentials to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese on 12 September 2006, succeeding Stewart Eldon as the ambassador.[http://www.britishembassy.ie/press/press_releases.htm New British ambassador presents credentials] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114205715/http://www.britishembassy.ie/press/press_releases.htm |date=14 January 2007 }} — British embassy press release, 12 September 2006

He was appointed to Turkey in 2009,[http://www.aa.com.tr/en/britain-appoints-new-ambassador-to-ankara.html Anadolu Ajansi - Britain appoints new Ambassador to Ankara] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120723163104/http://www.aa.com.tr/en/britain-appoints-new-ambassador-to-ankara.html |date=23 July 2012 }} and left Ankara in January 2014.[http://www.ankarascene.com/haber/david-reddaway-5706.html Bidding Farewell: David Reddaway], ankarascene.com

Following his retirement from the FCO, he was Chief Executive and Clerk of the Goldsmiths' Company from 2016-2023.

Reddaway was appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1980,{{London Gazette|issue=48212|supp=y|page=19|date=14 June 1980}} CMG in 1993,{{London Gazette|issue=53332|supp=y|page=3|date=12 June 1993}} and knighted KCMG in the 2013 Birthday Honours "for services to British diplomacy and furthering UK interests in Turkey".{{London Gazette|issue=60534|supp=y|page=3|date=15 June 2013}}

Reddaway had the honour of celebrating his 64th birthday at a Chris de Burgh concert. De Burgh announced Sir David's birthday to a packed audience at the London Palladium on April 26, 2017, and gave a brief account of his role as a diplomat. He then sang the Beatles song 'When I'm 64.'

Personal

David Reddaway married Roshan Firouz in the late summer of 1981,{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=730ZI1Q4N2dviBxsA0%2BmLg&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=15 January 2018|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}} thereby gaining Louise Firouz as his mother in law. The marriage was followed by the births of the couple's two sons and one daughter.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/new-british-ambassador-leaves-post-in-ottawa-1.1024560|title=New British ambassador leaves post in Ottawa|date= 1 July 2006|author=Patsy McGarry|publisher=Irish Times, Dublin|accessdate=15 January 2018}}
David remarried, to Gabrielle Claire O’Driscoll, in March, 2020.

Career

1975–1977: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Desk Officer for East Germany and the Council of Europe
1977–1980: Tehran: 3rd Secretary Commercial; 2nd later 1st Secretary Political
1980–1984: Madrid, 1st Secretary Political
1984–1986: Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Falkland Islands Department, Desk Officer
1986–1988: Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Private Secretary to Minister(s) of State
1988–1990: New Delhi, 1st Secretary Political
1990–1993: Tehran, chargé d'affaires
1993–1997: Buenos Aires, Minister & Deputy Head of Mission
1997–1999: FCO: Head of Southern European Department
1999–2001: FCO: Director Public Services
2002–2002: London, UK Special Representative for Afghanistan
2002–2003: Harvard, Visiting Fellow
2003–2006: Ottawa, High Commissioner
2006–2009: Dublin, Ambassador
2009–2014: Ankara, Ambassador
2016–2023: Chief Executive and Clerk, The Goldsmiths' Company

Arms

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = DCOA.jpg

|escutcheon = Per pall Or Azure and Gules in fess two Castles Or enflamed proper and in base a like Castle in chief a Sprig of three Maple Leaves slips conjoined on one stem Gules and veined Or.

|crest = Upon a Helm with a Wreath Or and Gules Issuing from a Circlet of Leopard’s Faces four manifest Or a demi Persian Ibex proper holding between the legs a Tulip Flower Gules slipped Vert. Mantled Gules doubled Or.

|motto = The Best From Old And New

|notes = Granted 1 December 2021 (183/331){{cite web|url=https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/194-january-2022-newsletter-no-67 |publisher=College of Arms |accessdate=29 January 2022 |title=January 2022 Newsletter (no 67)}}}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-reddaway The British Embassy in Turkey Career history] — biography from the British Embassy's website
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311153303/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/09/17/story17295.asp Britain’s new man in Ireland] — Sunday Business Post interview, 17 September 2006
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1808888.stm A high-flying veteran diplomat] — BBC News article, 8 February 2002
[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U32053 REDDAWAY, Sir David (Norman)], Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2013

{{succession box

|before=Andrew Burns

|title=British High Commissioner to Canada |years=2003–2006

|after=Anthony Cary

}}

{{succession box

|before=Stewart Eldon

|title=British Ambassador to Ireland |years=2006–2009

|after=Julian King

}}

{{succession box

|before=Nick Baird