Preceded by Sir Murray MacLehose Spouse(s) Helen Oxley Parker Occupation Diplomat Battles and wars World War II Rank Captain | Nationality British Children Three sons Education University of Edinburgh Succeeded by Anne Warburton | |
Alma mater University of Edinburgh Died 3 April 2006, South Fambridge, United Kingdom Units Green Howards, Intelligence Corps | ||
Sir Andrew Alexander Steel Stark KCMG CVO (30 December 1916 – 3 April 2006) was a British diplomat.
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Early life and military service
He was educated at Bathgate Academy and the University of Edinburgh. He then briefly worked as an English teacher between 1937 and 1939. After training with the 166th Officer Cadet Training Unit, Stark commissioned into the Green Howards on 9 November 1940. He served throughout the Second World War, laterly on the staff of Dwight D. Eisenhower as a German-speaking intelligence officer having transferred to the Intelligence Corps.
In 1944 he married Helen Oxley Parker and together they had three sons. In 1948 he was demobilised and joined HM Diplomatic Service.
Diplomatic career
Stark worked as Assistant Private Secretary to Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, from 1953 to 1955. He then held diplomatic posts in Vienna, Belgrade, Rome and Bonn. He was made Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1964 and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1965. In 1968, Stark was appointed, with ambassadorial rank, to the British Delegation to the United Nations and in the Seven Nation Committee working for the reform and reorganisation of the UN. He then served on the staff of the UN for three years from 1968 to 1971. That year he became British Ambassador to Denmark, serving in the role until 1976. In 1975 he was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Between 1976 and his retirement two years later Stark was Deputy Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Later life
After leaving the FCO, Stark was invited by Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller to be chairman of Maersk's UK subsidiary, a position he held until 1987. From 1983 to 1995 he was chairman of the Anglo-Danish Society and then served as the Society's honorary president until his death. Stark was Pro-Chancellor of the University of Essex from 1983 to 1995.