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Laurie Bristow

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Sir Laurie Bristow
KCMG
British Ambassador to Afghanistan
In office
June 2021 – November 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byAlison Blake
Succeeded byMartin Longden
(chargé d'affaires)
British Ambassador to Russia
In office
January 2016 – January 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime Minister
Preceded bySir Tim Barrow
Succeeded byDeborah Bronnert
British Ambassador to Azerbaijan
In office
18 February 2004 – 2007
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byAndy Tucker
Succeeded byCarolyn Browne
Personal details
Born(1963-11-23)23 November 1963(age 60)
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Fiona, Lady Bristow
Children2
EducationColchester Royal Grammar School
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge(BA)
University of Cambridge(PhD)
The Open University(MBA)
OccupationDiplomat

Sir Laurence Stanley Charles BristowKCMG(born 23 November 1963) is a British diplomat who served asBritish Ambassador to Afghanistanbetween June and November 2021, notably during thefall of Kabul.He served asBritish Ambassador to Azerbaijanfrom 2004 to 2007 andBritish Ambassador to Russiafrom 2016 to 2020. He is now President ofHughes Hall, Cambridge.

Education

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Bristow was educated atColchester Royal Grammar School,andTrinity College, Cambridge,where he graduated with aBAin 1986. He received aPhDin English literature[1]from theUniversity of Cambridgein 1990, with a thesis called "Ezra Pound: Poetry and Public Speaking".[2]He also gained aMBAin 2001 fromThe Open University.[3]

Career

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Bristow joined theForeign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) in 1990.[2]In the winter of early 1992, after attending a year of Romanian language training in the UK,[4]he was posted toBucharest,Romania, where he worked for three years assecond secretary.He then returned to the FCO inLondon,where he worked in theEuropean Uniondepartment. From 1996 to 1998 he served asprivate secretaryto theMinister of State for Europe.After a year of Turkish language training, he worked inAnkara,Turkey as head of the political section from 1999 to 2002. From 2002 to 2003 he worked inRomeat theNATO Defence College.In 2003 he worked on the Iraq policy unit at the FCO.[2]

Bristow wasBritish Ambassador to Azerbaijanfrom 18 February 2004 to 2007.[5][6]He was minister (deputy head of mission) inMoscowfrom 2007 to 2010.[7]He then returned to London as Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from 2010 until 2012.[8]He subsequently replacedThomas Drewas Director, Intelligence and National Security.[2][9][10]In 2015, he was succeeded by Jonathan Allen[11]and appointed to beAmbassador to Russia,[12][13]a role he served in from January 2016. In response to thepoisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal,he had "difficult conversations" with theRussian governmentabout deterrence.[4]His tenure ended in January 2020, and he was succeeded byDeborah Bronnert.In March 2020 he was appointed Regional Ambassador for COP26 - China, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa, jointly at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Cabinet Office.[3]

Bristow succeededAlison BlakeasAmbassador to Afghanistanin June 2021.[14]AsKabul fell to the Talibanon 15 August 2021 and people attempted to flee Afghanistan, Bristow remained atKabul's airport,personally processingvisaapplications of British and Afghan nationals.[15]Bristow flew back to the UK on 29 August, announcing thatthe Embassywould operate fromQatar"for the time being".[16]

In October 2022, Bristow became President ofHughes Hall,a postgraduate college of theUniversity of Cambridge.[17]

Honours

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Bristow was appointedCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George(CMG) "for services to British foreign policy interests and national security" in the2015 New Year Honours[18]and promoted asKnight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George(KCMG) in the2019 New Year Honours.[19]

Personal life

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Bristow is married to Fiona and has two sons.[13]

Books

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Bristow's memoir,Kabul: Final Call,recounting the evacuation from Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul, was published in April 2024.[20]

References

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  1. ^Oliphant, Roland (16 August 2021)."Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan plans to stay in Kabul 'for as long as possible'".The Telegraph.Retrieved16 August2021.
  2. ^abcdA & C Black (2015)."BRISTOW, Dr. Laurence Stanley Charles".Who's Who 2015, online edition.Oxford University Press.Retrieved17 October2015.
  3. ^ab"LinkedIn profile".
  4. ^abDavidson, Anna."The UC Interview Series: Sir Laurie Bristow".University Consortium.Retrieved15 August2021.
  5. ^Mackie, Colin (2015)."British Diplomats Directory"(PDF).p. 624. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 October2015.
  6. ^"Laurie Bristow".azer.Retrieved15 August2021.
  7. ^Mackie, Colin (2015)."British Diplomats Directory"(PDF).p. 798. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 October2015.
  8. ^Mackie, Colin (2015)."British Diplomats Directory"(PDF).p. 912. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 October2015.
  9. ^"Informal Meetings held by the Foreign Affairs Committee in Session 2014-15"(PDF).Proceedings of the Foreign Affairs Committee.UK Parliament. 2015.Retrieved17 October2015.
  10. ^Foreign & Commonwealth Office (9 December 2013)."Senior staff and salary data: March 2013".gov.uk.Her Majesty's Government.Retrieved17 October2015.
  11. ^Mackie, Colin (2015)."British Diplomats Directory"(PDF).p. 914. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved17 October2015.
  12. ^"Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Russia".Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 18 November 2015.
  13. ^ab"Dr Laurie Bristow KCMG".GOV.UK.Retrieved18 August2021.
  14. ^"Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Afghanistan: Laurie Bristow".GOV.UK(Press release). Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. 24 May 2021.Retrieved27 May2021.
  15. ^Selby, Jenn; Vaughan, Richard (16 August 2021)."Afghanistan: UK ambassador Laurie Bristow remains in Kabul airport to process visas for evacuees".i.Retrieved16 August2021.
  16. ^Bowden, George; Wright, Katie (29 August 2021)."Afghanistan: British ambassador home as last UK troops leave".BBC News.Retrieved29 August2021.
  17. ^"Sir Laurie Bristow elected President of Hughes Hall".28 March 2022.Retrieved4 October2022.
  18. ^"No. 61092".The London Gazette(Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N3.
  19. ^"NEW YEAR 2019 DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND OVERSEAS LIST"(PDF).
  20. ^Harding, Luke (2 June 2024)."Kabul: Final Call by Laurie Bristow; The Afghans by Åsne Seierstad reviews – how the west abandoned Afghanistan… and what happened next".The Observer.Retrieved5 June2024.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British Ambassador to Azerbaijan
2004–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Ambassador to Russia
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Ambassador to Afghanistan
2021 		Succeeded byas chargé d'affaires
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