Richard Alvin Neilson (9 July 1937 – 6 June 1997) was a British diplomat who was Ambassador to Colombia and Chile, and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago.

Biography

Neilson's childhood was spent in the north-west of England and he returned to the family origins the Isle of Man during the Second World War living in Kirk Michael. After winning a County Scholarship from Burnley Grammar School, Neilson received a 1st Class degree in Geography and then a master's degree (his thesis being on the formation of the Dartmoor

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) from Leeds University before winning a

Fulbright scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...

to Wisconsin University. He returned becoming an academic at Edinburgh University. From Edinburgh he joined the

Foreign Office Foreign may refer to: Government * Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries * Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries ** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government ** Foreign office and foreign minister * Unit ...

serving in Congo, Chile (twice), Australia, Northern Ireland, Zambia and Gibraltar (as Deputy Governor). He was Ambassador to Colombia 1987–1990, Ambassador to Chile 1990–1993 and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago 1994–1996. Neilson was appointed MVO Fourth Class (which became LVO in 1985) on the occasion of the Queen's state visit to Chile in 1968, and

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in 1987. Neilson was survived by his wife Olive and son Paul.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Neilson, Richard Alvin 1937 births 1997 deaths People educated at Burnley Grammar School Alumni of the University of Leeds Academics of the University of Edinburgh Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Chile Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Colombia High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Trinidad and Tobago Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Fulbright alumni