John Holmes (British politician)

John Holmes was born in Preston, in the north of England, in April 1951. Following his education at Preston Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford, he entered the Diplomatic Service in 1973. After spending three years as a desk officer in London, including a period of temporary duty at the British Mission to the UN in New York, he was appointed to the British Embassy in Moscow as a 3rd Secretary Chancery, and subsequent promoted 2nd Secretary.

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On returning to the FCO in 1978, John first took up an appointment in the Near East and North Africa Department before becoming Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary in 1982.

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In 1984 John was posted to the British Embassy in Paris as 1st Secretary (Economic). He returned to London in 1987 as Assistant Head of the Soviet Department and between 1989 and 1991 he was seconded to Thomas De La Rue & Co, before moving to India as Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the High Commission in New Delhi.

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John returned to London in 1995, first as Head of the European Union Department in the FCO and then as Private Secretary, and subsequently Principal Private Secretary, to the Prime Minister. Between 1999 and autumn 2001, John was Ambassador to Portugal. John has been Ambassador to France since October 2001.

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He was awarded the CMG in 1997, the CVO in 1998, the KBE in 1999 and the GCVO in 2004.

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In 1976 he married Penelope Morris. John and Penny have three daughters : Sarah, Lucy and Emilie (who was born in Paris).

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