Laurence Pumphrey
{{Short description|British diplomat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Sir John Laurence Pumphrey, KCMG (22 July 1916 – 23 December 2009) was a British diplomat.
Biography
Known as Laurie, Pumphrey was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, where he read Classics, taking a First in Honour Moderations. During the Second World War, he was commissioned into the Northumberland Hussars. Captured in Crete, he was imprisoned in Oflag VII-B. After a failed escape attempt he was sent to Colditz Castle. For his wartime service he was awarded the Greek War Cross, 3rd Class.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-laurence-pumphrey-diplomat-decorated-for-wartime-bravery-who-later-served-as-ambassador-to-1888573.html|title=Sir Laurence Pumphrey: Diplomat decorated for wartime bravery who later served as Ambassador to Pakistan|date=4 February 2010|work=The Independent}}
Joining HM Diplomatic Service in 1945, he was Assistant Private Secretary to Sir Orme Sargent, then was seconded to 10 Downing Street. In 1957, he reported a conversation about a possible leak of a change in the bank rate; a Bank Rate Tribunal was convened, but found that no improprieties had taken place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/sir-laurence-pumphrey-ambassador-to-pakistan-9c3jq5vh7t2|title=Sir Laurence Pumphrey: Ambassador to Pakistan|date=4 February 2010|work=The Times}}
He was appointed Counsellor to the Office of the Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in South East Asia in Singapore in 1960, Counsellor at the British Embassy in Belgrade in 1963, and Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya in 1965. In 1967, Pumphrey was appointed British High Commissioner in Zambia. In 1971 he became British High Commissioner to Pakistan (Ambassador from 1972, when Pakistan left the Commonwealth). He retired in 1976. In retirement he lived in his native Northumberland.
In 1945 he married Jean Riddell, daughter of Sir Walter Riddell, 12th Baronet; they had five children.
Pumphrey was appointed CMG in 1963 and promoted to KCMG in 1973.
References
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Category:Members of HM Diplomatic Service
Category:People educated at Winchester College
Category:Alumni of New College, Oxford
Category:British World War II prisoners of war
Category:Northumberland Hussars officers
Category:People from Northumberland
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Category:Recipients of the War Cross (Greece)
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
Category:20th-century British diplomats