Roderic Lyne
{{Short description|British diplomat (born 1948)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
|name = Sir Roderic Lyne
|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KBE|CMG}}
|image = Roderic_Lyne.webp
|caption =
|office = British Ambassador to Russia
|term_start = 2000
|term_end = 2004
|predecessor = Andrew Wood
|successor = Tony Brenton
|president = Vladimir Putin
|birth_name=Roderic Michael John Lyne
|birth_date = {{birth-date and age|31 March 1948}}
|birth_place =
|nationality = British
|residence =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = Leeds University
|spouse = {{marriage|Amanda Mary Smith|1969}}
|religion =
|children = 3
|website =
}}
Sir Roderic Michael John Lyne {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KBE|CMG}} (born 31 March 1948) is a British former diplomat who served as British ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2000 to 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/about/council/roderic_lyne/ |title=Chatham House – About us – Patron, Presidents, Council and Directors – the Rt Hon Sir Roderic Lyne |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010013911/http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/about/council/roderic_lyne/ |archive-date=10 October 2009 }}
Early life and education
The son of a senior Royal Air Force officer who flew Spitfires in World War II, Lyne refused to go to Marlborough College because "there were no doors on the lavatories", so instead attended Eton College on a bursary. He went on to read history at Leeds University, which he says was the only university to offer him an interview, on account of his poor A-level grades. Nevertheless, he was a good undergraduate student.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8449384.stm|title=BBC Profile: Iraq inquiry questioner Sir Roderic Lyne|author=Mary Ann Sieghart|publisher=BBC Radio 4's Profile|access-date=13 January 2010 | date=11 January 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/media/grads/2002/lyne.htm|title=Graduations 2002: Roderic Michael John Lyne|publisher=University of Leeds|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704123848/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/media/grads/2002/lyne.htm|archive-date=4 July 2009}}
Lyne received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www1.hw.ac.uk/committees/court/minutes/min090204.pdf|title=HW Minutes 2004|publisher=Heriot-Watt University|url-status=dead|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128091109/http://www1.hw.ac.uk/committees/court/minutes/min090204.pdf}}
Diplomatic career
Rod Lyne joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1970, and went to study at the Army School of Languages in 1971. His first posting was as Third Secretary to Moscow in 1972. He was sent to Dakar in 1974 and returned to the FCO in 1976. He was appointed Assistant Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington in 1979. Lyne was posted as first secretary to UKMIS New York City in 1982 where he served until 1986, when he was seconded to Chatham House in London. From 1987 to 1990, he was Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the British Embassy in Moscow.The Diplomatic Service List 1989 (page 237), HMSO, {{ISBN|0-11-591707-1}}
Between 1990 and 1993, Lyne was head of the Soviet and then Eastern Department of the FCO. For three years from 1993, Rod Lyne was seconded to 10 Downing Street as private secretary to Prime Minister John Major, advising on foreign affairs, defence and Northern Ireland. From 1997 to 2000 Lyne served as permanent representative, UKMIS Geneva before finishing his diplomatic career as HM Ambassador to Russia.{{cite web|url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/about/council/roderic_lyne/|title=Roderic Lyne biography|publisher=Chatham House|url-status=}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}
On his London postings, he usually commuted to Whitehall by bicycle.
Post retirement
Sir Roderic Lyne is now vice-chairman at Chatham House where, from 1986 to 1987, he was a visiting research fellow. He is an advisor to JPMorgan Chase, who have been chosen to operate the Trade Bank of Iraq, which will give banks access to the financial system of IraqThe New York Times 3 August 2009 He was a special adviser to BP, which currently has major interests in Iraq.{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090624/debtext/90624-0017.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Jun 2009 (pt 0017) |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |date=24 June 2009 |access-date=9 April 2017}} He is a non-executive director of Petropavlovsk plc (formerly Peter Hambro Mining). He is a member of the board of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce; the board of governors of Kingston University; and is a governor of the Ditchley Foundation.
From 2005 to 2007, he was a member of the Task Force of the Trilateral Commission on Russia. He was a member of the Chilcot inquiry into circumstances leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq,{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/15/iraq-war-inquiry-conservative-reaction | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=David Cameron says he favours a more open approach to Iraq inquiry | first=Patrick | last=Wintour | date=15 June 2009 | access-date=22 May 2010}} having been appointed to the Privy Council in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.privy-council.org.uk/output/page76.asp#l |title= Quick Loans Online with Same Day Payout – Get an Instant Decision|website=www.privy-council.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119075331/http://www.privy-council.org.uk/output/page76.asp |archive-date=19 January 2010}} Several people have commented that he is the toughest inquisitor on the committee. He currently sits on the advisory council of the Front Row Group of Companies Ltd.
Personal life
Rod Lyne married Amanda Mary Smith in 1969. They have two sons (born 1971 and 1974) and one daughter (born 1981).
A fanatical Manchester United supporter, he gave one of his sons the middle name "Charlton" after Sir Bobby Charlton. A keen sportsman and outdoorsman, he took part in a half marathon through the streets of Moscow to publicise the plight of two endangered species of Siberian big cats.{{cite web|url=http://www.marianne2.fr/Tenues-leopard-pour-sauver-les-tigres_a135224.html |title=Tenues léopard pour sauver les tigres |website=www.marianne2.fr |language=fr |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704103443/http://www.marianne2.fr/Tenues-leopard-pour-sauver-les-tigres_a135224.html |archive-date=4 July 2009 }} He also took on Alastair Campbell over three races in St Petersburg, which Campbell won 2–1.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/background/rodericlyne.aspx Official biography on Iraq Inquiry website]
{{Members of the Iraq Inquiry}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyne, Sir Roderic}}
Category:People educated at Eton College
Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds
Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Russia
Category:Permanent representatives of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Office at Geneva
Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
Category:Members of HM Diplomatic Service
Category:Council and directors of Chatham House
Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire