Sir Cyril Stanley Pickard (1917–1992) was a British diplomat who served as British High Commissioner to Pakistan and Nigeria.

Biography

His ancestors hailed from

Picardy Picardy (; Picard and french: Picardie, , ) is a historical territory and a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region of Hauts-de-France. It is located in the northern part of France. Hi ...

in France. He joined the Home Office in 1939, and served in the Royal Artillery from 1940 to 1941. After his service, he was appointed to various posts in the Office of the Secretary of State in Cairo, and with UNRRA. Transferred to the

Commonwealth Relations Office The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was a British Cabinet minister responsible for dealing with the United Kingdom's relations with members of the Commonwealth of Nations (its former colonies). The minister's department was the Commo ...

in 1948, he held appointments in India,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, New Zealand, and Cyprus as Acting High Commissioner, before becoming British high Commissioner in Pakistan from 1966 to 1971, and Nigeria 1971 to 1974. As High Commissioner in Pakistan, he visited Noakhali, East Pakistan where he had a notable encounter with Syed Nur Alam Chowdhury, the erstwhile President and Chairman of the Rajganj Union Council. After his retirement he took an active role in the work of the Royal Commonwealth Society. He died from Parkinson's disease in 1992. He was appointed a Companion of the

Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

(CMG) by Elizabeth II, whilst he was an Assistant Under-secretary of State in the

, during the

1964 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1964 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1964 to celebrat ...

. In the

1966 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1966 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those co ...

, he was awarded as Knight Commander of the

(KCMG) by Elizabeth II, whilst he was stationed at Karachi.

References

* 1917 births 1992 deaths British Army personnel of World War II Royal Artillery officers High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Pakistan Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Neurological disease deaths in the United Kingdom Deaths from Parkinson's disease High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Nigeria English people of French descent Civil servants in the Commonwealth Relations Office {{UK-diplomat-stub