James Allan (diplomat)

==Career==

==Career==

From 1956 to 1958: Allan was an Assistant Principal in the [[Commonwealth Relations Office]], in [[Westminster]]. In 1958 he became a Third Secretary and later a Second Secretary at the British High Commission in South Africa. In 1959 he was appointed as Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary. From 1961 to 1964 he was posted as First Secretary to the British High Commission in [[Sierra Leone]], then briefly trsnsferred to the British High Commission to Cyprus before joining the Commonwealth Relations Office at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]], where he served until 1968.<ref name=WW/> On 20 July 1966, he was appointed as an Officer of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.<ref>''The London Gazette'', Issue 44081, 12 August 1966, [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44081/page/8950 p. 8950]</ref>

From 1956 to 1958: Allan was an Assistant Principal in the [[Commonwealth Relations Office]], in [[Westminster]]. In 1958 he became a Third Secretary and later a Second Secretary at the British High Commission in South Africa. In 1959 he was appointed as Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary. From 1961 to 1964 he was posted as First Secretary to the British High Commission in [[Sierra Leone]], then briefly transferred to the British High Commission to Cyprus before joining the Commonwealth Relations Office at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]], where he served until 1968.<ref name=WW/> On 20 July 1966, he was appointed as an Officer of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.<ref>''The London Gazette'', Issue 44081, 12 August 1966, [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44081/page/8950 p. 8950]</ref>

From 1969 to 1971, Allan was Head of Chancery at the British Embassy in China.<ref name=WW/> On 24 September 1971, he was appointed as Consul in [[Luxembourg]].<ref>''The London Gazette'', Issue 45588, 1 February 1972, [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45588/page/1282 p. 1282]</ref> From 1973 until 1975, he was Counsellor in the [[Northern Ireland Office]], Belfast. He next returned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Counsellor and in 1978 was promoted to Head of the Overseas Information Department there.<ref name=WW/>

From 1969 to 1971, Allan was Head of Chancery at the British Embassy in China.<ref name=WW/> On 24 September 1971, he was appointed as Consul in [[Luxembourg]].<ref>''The London Gazette'', Issue 45588, 1 February 1972, [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45588/page/1282 p. 1282]</ref> From 1973 until 1975, he was Counsellor in the [[Northern Ireland Office]], Belfast. He next returned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Counsellor and in 1978 was promoted to Head of the Overseas Information Department there.<ref name=WW/>