Walter Robert Haydon

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Sir
Robin Haydon
KCMG
British Ambassador to Ireland
In office
21 July 1976 – 1980
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJames Callaghan
Preceded byChristopher Ewart-Biggs
Succeeded byLeonard Figg
Downing Street Press Secretary
In office
1973–1974
Prime MinisterEdward Heath
Preceded byDonald Maitland
Succeeded byJoe Haines
Personal details
Born
Walter Robert Haydon

(1920-05-29)29 May 1920
Died1 December 1999(1999-12-01) (aged 79)
Spouse
Joan Elizabeth Tewson
​
​
(m. 1943)​
Children3
EducationDover Grammar School
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
Years of service1939–1945
RankLieutenant
UnitKent Yeomanry
Royal Artillery
V Force
Battles/warsWorld War II

Sir Walter Robert Haydon (29 May 1920 – 1 December 1999) always known as Robin, was a British former political aide, diplomat and ambassador who served as Downing Street Press Secretary under Edward Heath from 1973 to 1974.[1][2]

Early life[edit]

Robin Haydon was born in Wandsworth and educated at Dover Grammar School.[3][4] He had hoped to follow in his father's (also called Walter) footsteps as a journalist, but at the outbreak of the World War II in 1939 he enlisted with the British army and would eventually be posted to India where he served behind enemy lines in Burma with V Force.[2][5]

Career[edit]

After the war in 1946 he joined the Foreign Service, and after a number of postings, including public relations officer to the British Mission to the United Nations in New York in 1961, he eventually became the British High Commissioner for Malawi (1971-1973) and then Malta (1974-1976), a position he relinquished when he was made British Ambassador to Ireland the day after the assignation of Christopher Ewart-Biggs in 1976.[2] An attempt on his own life by the Provisional IRA took place in 1978 at Dublin Cathedral as he and his wife attended the Armistice Day service.[5]

He was appointed CMG in 1970.[6] Robin Haydon retired from the Civil Service in 1980 and was knighted (KCMG) that same year.[7] After retirement he took on public relations work with the Imperial Group, and later Imperial Tobacco, until 1987 and was a member of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, from 1984 to 1989.[2][5]

Personal life[edit]

In 1943, he married Joan Elizabeth Tewson, whom he had met while serving in India. The union bore two daughters and a son. He was widowed in 1988,[2][5] and he died in 1999.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Cautious and guarded British envoy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Murdoch, Alan; Lynch, Jack (10 January 2000). "Obituary: Sir Robin Haydon". The Independent. p. 6. ISSN 0951-9467. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  3. ^ "2000 January – Old Pharosians". oldpharosians.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. ^ Lorraine (16 September 2013). "Robin Haydon – Ambassador extraordinary". The Dover Historian. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Obituary: Sir Robin Haydon". The Times. 6 December 1999. p. 21. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Page 1 | Supplement 44999, 30 December 1969 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Page 1 | Supplement 48041, 28 December 1979 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Cautious and guarded British envoy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British Ambassador to Ireland
1976–1980 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Downing Street Press Secretary
1973–1974 		Succeeded by
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