Robin Renwick, Baron Renwick of Clifton

Robin William Renwick, Baron Renwick of Clifton, KCMG (born 13 December 1937) is a former diplomat and a former member of the House of Lords. He was first a Labour peer but moved to the crossbenches in 2007. He retired from the House in 2018.

The Right Honourable The Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG
Member of the House of Lords
In office 26 September 1997 – 31 March 2018
British Ambassador to the United States
In office 1991–1995
Monarch	Elizabeth II
President	George Bush Bill Clinton
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Antony Acland
Succeeded by	The Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
British Ambassador to South Africa
In office 1987–1991
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher John Major
Preceded by	Patrick Moberly
Succeeded by	Anthony Reeve
Personal details
Born	(1937-12-13) 13 December 1937
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Annie Renwick
Children	1 s 1 d

Lord Renwick was educated at St Paul's School and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1962 with a Master of Arts in history. He further studied at the Sorbonne.

From 1956 to 1958 he completed national service in the British Army.

In 1963 he entered the British Foreign Service and had the postings detailed below.

Renwick was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1980 New Year Honours[1] and was promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1989 New Year Honours.[2]

He was recommended for a life peerage and created Baron Renwick of Clifton, of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, on 26 September 1997.[3]

Diplomatic posts held

• Dakar, 1963–64;
• Foreign Office, 1964–66;
• New Delhi, 1966–70;
• Private Secretary to Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1970–72;
• First Secretary, Paris, 1972–76;
• Counsellor, Cabinet Office, 1976–78;
• Rhodesia Department, FCO, 1978–80;
• Political Adviser to Governor of Rhodesia, 1980;
• Head of Chancery, Washington, 1981–84;
• Assistant Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1984–87;

Ambassador to:

• South Africa, 1987–91,
• U.S., 1991–95;

Directorates held

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the following firms:

• Compagnie Financiere Richemont AG, 1995–,
• Fluor Corporation, 1997–,
• SAB Miller plc, 1999–,
• Gem Diamonds[4]
• Kazakhmys plc;
• Vallar plc;
• Vice-chairman, JP Morgan Cazenove (previously Cazenove (stock broker)), 2000–
• Excelsior Mining Corp., 2014–

He has previously served on the following Boards of Directors:

• British Airways plc, 1996–2005,
• Harmony Gold, 1999–2004,
• BHP Billiton plc, 1997–2005,

Club memberships

He is a member of the following clubs:

• Brooks's
• Hurlingham Club
• Travellers Club

References

1. "No. 48041". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1979. p. 2.
2. "No. 51578". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1988. p. 3.
3. "No. 54907". The London Gazette. 1 October 1997. p. 11063.
4. http://www.gemdiamonds.com/gem/en/media/press-releases/?ref=166

External links

• Biography
• Interview with Robin William, Lord Renwick & transcript, British Diplomatic Oral History Programme, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1998

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sir Antony Acland	British Ambassador to the United States 1991–1995	Succeeded by Sir John Kerr