Alfred Parsons (diplomat) explained

Alfred Parsons
Office5:High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Term Start5:22 December 1983
Term End5:March 1987
Predecessor5:Victor Garland
Successor5:Doug McClelland
Birth Date:1925 5, df=y
Birth Place:Hobart, Tasmania
Death Place:Canberra, ACT
Occupation:Public servant, diplomat
Nationality:Australian
Alma Mater:University of Tasmania

Alfred Roy Parsons (24 May 1925 – 19 June 2010) was an Australian diplomat from 1947 to 1988. He was the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1987, only the second career diplomat to hold the position.

Parsons was born in Hobart and educated at Hobart High School and the University of Tasmania. He joined the Department of External Affairs (now the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in Canberra in 1947. He was posted to Australian missions in Jakarta, Rangoon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, the United Nations (New York City), and London. His postings to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and London were as High Commissioner. From 1976 to 1984, he was a Deputy Secretary of the department, responsible for Asian affairs.

He died in Canberra in 2010, aged 85, survived by his wife, Jill, two sons and a daughter.[1] [2]

Honours

Notes and References

  1. News: Diplomat had skills in foreign affairs and on the green. The Canberra Times. 22 July 2010. 12.
  2. News: Career diplomat was one of Australia's finest. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106162852/http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/career-diplomat-was-one-of-australias-finest-20100813-1233d.html. 6 November 2012. John. Milne. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 14 August 2010.
  3. Web site: It's an Honour: AO . 13 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212126/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=885015&search_type=quick&showInd=true . 3 March 2016 . live .
  4. Web site: It's an Honour: Cent. Medal . 13 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210204005512/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1116770 . 4 February 2021 . live .