Preceded by Sir Robin McLaren Role Diplomat Name Leonard Appleyard | Religion Anglican Occupation Diplomat Succeeded by Anthony Galsworthy | |
Born 2 September 1938 (age 85) ( 1938-09-02 ) Spouse(s) Elizabeth West (1964-1994)
Joan Jefferson (1994-) Alma mater Queens' College, Cambridge Education Queens' College, Cambridge | ||
Sir Leonard Vincent Appleyard KCMG (b. 2 September 1938) is a former British diplomat.
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Education
Born in 1938, Appleyard was educated at The Read School, an independent school for boys (now co-educational) in the village of Drax in North Yorkshire, followed by Queens' College at the University of Cambridge, from which he gained a degree (with Honours) in Classical Chinese. He speaks Chinese, Russian, Hungarian and French.
Career
He served at the British Embassy in the People's Republic of China between 1966 and 1968 (during the country's Cultural Revolution). He served as First Secretary British High Commission in India from 1971–1974, and later returned to China as ambassador in 1994 until 1997, a period which witnessed the Taiwan Strait Crisis (1995–96) and also the 'handover' of Hong Kong from UK rule to the People's Republic of China.
Sir Leonard also served as the UK's ambassador to Hungary; served in the Treasury; in the Cabinet Office as Deputy Cabinet Secretary; as Secretary of the Gulf War Cabinet; and Financial Counsellor in Paris.
Following his departure from the diplomatic service, Sir Leonard took up a position as vice-chairman of Barclays Capital.
Sir Leonard also served as joint-Chairman on the Nuffield Languages Programme Steering Group along with Sir Trevor McDonald.
He is a former Pro-Chancellor of Bournemouth University.