Sherard Cowper-Coles

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Sir Sherard Louis Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO (born London 8 January 1955) is a British diplomat, since 2007 ambassador to Afghanistan. His surname is pronounced 'Cooper-Coles'.

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[edit] Early life

The son of Sherard Hamilton Cowper-Coles and Dorothy Cowper-Coles (née Short), he was educated at Freston Lodge School, New Beacon School, Tonbridge School and Hertford College, Oxford.[1] He studied classics at Oxford, and also speaks fluent Arabic.

[edit] Diplomatic career

Cowper-Coles entered the diplomatic service in 1977. He was Third Secretary and later Second Secretary in Cairo, 1980–1983, First Secretary in the Planning Staff of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1983–1985; Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-secretary of State, 1985–1987, First Secretary in Washington, 1987–1991, Assistant in the Security Policy Department of the FCO, 1991–1993, Resident Associate, International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1993–1994; Head of the Hong Kong Department of the FCO, 1994–1997, Political Counsellor in Paris, 1997–1999; Principal Private Secretary to Robin Cook, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 1999–2001.[1]

His first role as a head of mission was in Tel Aviv as the British Ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2003. He was next appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, a post that he held until 2006. Since 15 May 2007 he has served as ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul.[1]

Cowper-Coles is referred to in the film Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason, when the character Mark Darcy speaks to him about Bridget's imprisonment in Thailand.

Coincidentally, his wife's name is also Bridget. In 1982, he married Bridget Mary Elliott, and they have four sons and one daughter.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Cowper-Coles, Sir Sherard (Louis), in Who's Who 2008 (London, A. & C. Black, 2008)

[edit] External links

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