SirAlan Bedford UrwickKCVO CMG KStJ | |
---|---|
Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons | |
In office 1989–1995 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Sir Victor Le Fanu |
Succeeded by | Sir Peter Jennings |
British High Commissioner to Canada | |
In office 1987–1989 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Sir Derek Day |
Succeeded by | Brian Fall |
British Ambassador to Egypt | |
In office 1985–1987 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Sir Michael Weir |
Succeeded by | Sir James Adams |
British Ambassador to Jordan | |
In office 1979–1984 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | John Moberly |
Succeeded by | Sir John Coles |
Personal details | |
Born | (1930-05-02)2 May 1930 London, United Kingdom |
Died | 8 December 2016(2016-12-08) (aged 85–86) Slaugham, West Sussex |
Alma mater | New College, Oxford University |
Sir Alan Bedford Urwick KCVO CMG KStJ (2 May 1930 – 8 December 2016) was a British diplomat, who served as Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons from 1989 to 1995.
Early life
Alan Bedford Urwick was born on 2 May 1930, in London. He was the younger of the two children, of Lt. Col. Lyndall Fownes Urwick OBE MC and Joan Wilhelmina Saunders (née Bedford).
Lyndall F. Urwick was one of the British pioneers of scientific management prior to the Second World War. In 1934, he set up his own management consultancy practice, Urwick, Orr & Partners.
Alan Urwick was educated at Dragon School in Oxford, and then at Rugby School in Warwickshire.
Alan Urwick graduated from New College, Oxford, obtaining a first in Modern History in 1952.
Career
MI6
Foreign Office
Urwick joined the British diplomatic service in 1952 and undertook tours of duty in Western Europe, the Middle East, Moscow, and Washington, D.C. He served as the United Kingdom's ambassador to Jordan (1979–1984) and to Egypt (1985–1987), and was the British High Commissioner in Canada (1987–1989). He left the diplomatic service in 1989.
Serjeant-at-Arms
He then served as Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons until his retirement in 1995.
Retirement and death
In retirement, Urwick served as the Chairman of the Anglo-Jordanian Society from 1997 to 2001. He arranged for a memorial service to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral following the death of King Hussein of Jordan in 1999.
Urwick died on 8 December 2016, at the age of 86, at his home in Slaugham, West Sussex.
A memorial service was held at St. Margaret's Church in Westminster Abbey on 19 October 2017.
Personal life
Urwick married Marta Montagne, the daughter of the Peruvian ambassador to Lebanon, in 1960 in Beirut. They had three sons together, Christopher, Richard, and Michael. Urwick spoke fluent French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic. Urwick was a member of the Garrick Club and an honorary member of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants.
References
- ^ "Urwick, Sir Alan (Bedford)". Who's Who. 1 December 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U38393. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Sir Alan Urwick, diplomat and reforming Serjeant at Arms – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Alan Urwick". The Times. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "The Urwick Prize". Worshipful Company of Management Consultants. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- "Sir Alan Bedford Urwick". Burke's Peerage. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Sir Alan Urwick". Vol 263 cc1672-4. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 July 1995. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- "Previous Ambassadors". UK in Egypt: The official website for the British Embassy in Egypt. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- "Previous High Commissioners". UK in Canada: The official website for the British High Commission in Canada. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- Tony Newton, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (19 July 1995). "Sir Alan Urwick". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 263. House of Commons. col. 1672.
- "URWICK - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". The Daily Telegraph Announcements. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- "Court Circular | The Royal Family". The Royal Household. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
Further reading
- "Sir Alan Bedford Urwick". Burke's Peerage and Gentry. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
Diplomatic posts | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded byJohn Moberly | British Ambassador to Jordan 1979–1984 |
Succeeded bySir John Coles |
Preceded bySir Michael Weir | British Ambassador to Egypt 1985–1987 |
Succeeded bySir James Adams |
Preceded bySir Derek Day | British High Commissioner to Canada 1987–1989 |
Succeeded byBrian Fall |
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
Preceded bySir Victor Le Fanu | Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons 1989–1995 |
Succeeded bySir Peter Jennings |
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- 1930 births
- 2016 deaths
- People educated at The Dragon School
- People educated at Rugby School
- Alumni of New College, Oxford
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Jordan
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Egypt
- High commissioners of the United Kingdom to Canada
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Serjeants at arms of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
- People from Slaugham
- British diplomat stubs