About Chris

I joined the FCO in 1988 after five years in a bank, which I had joined from school. After four years in London I was posted to Abidjan, then Karachi 1995, Abidjan 1999, and Kigali 2002. I left Rwanda in 2006 and am now Deputy Manager for two HMG funds: the Strategic Programme Fund/Reuniting Europe and the Balkans Conflict Prevention Pool. In February 2009 I start language training for my next posting, to Zagreb. I have six months to become fluent in Croatian.

As for my career plan, as a mainstream FCO Officer, things take time. I need two more promotions to be able to bid to be an Ambassador in a small Embassy in Europe or Africa. I was Charge d’Affaires in Rwanda and Burundi on a handful of occasions and enjoyed the challenge. Achieving the necessary promotions will though be a hard task. I try to get under the skin of the countries I deal with and like to keep in touch with the people I meet. I don’t want to be seen as a “here today gone tomorrow” civil servant.

I have two daughters aged 13 and 11. Social life is therefore a bit non-existent. So I follow – usually from a convenient armchair, bar or website - Brighton & Hove Albion, Raith Rovers, Partizan Belgrade, Fenerbahce and Dinamo Minsk. I edited the Albion fanzine And Smith Must Score from 1988-91. I watch cricket when I can (preferably Sussex) and have written for Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac. Among my ancestors are the Hambledon cricketer Billy Beldham and the music hall singer Marie Lloyd. Unfortunately I sing like him and play cricket like her but I was the No 1 umpire in Rwanda in 2005. I've also done some guidebook writing, for Rough Guides and Bradt.