Nigel Groom

Nigel GroomOBE(April 26, 1924 – March 5, 2014)was aBritishArabist,historian, author,soldier,counter-espionageofficer inMI5andperfumeexpert.He was a noted expert on the pre-Islamichistory of theArab world.

Biography

Educated atHaileyburyandMagdalene College, Cambridge,Groom served in theBritish Indian Armyduring the Second World War and fought in theBurma Campaign.Joining theColonial Officeafter the war ended, he was posted to theAden Protectoratein January 1948 and soon found himself inBayhanas political agent, replacing Peter Davey, who had been killed in a gunfight.During his time in Bayhan he assisted in the construction of the first primary school and introduced the first motor car.

In 1950 he was posted toDhalaand moved to Aden in 1952, where he was Assistant Chief Secretary.From 1958-1962 he was based outside theArabian Peninsulafor the first time in his colonial career, moving toNairobiin Kenya.

Groom joined theSecurity Servicein 1962. His obituary in the journal of the British-Yemeni Society notes he was 'too discreet and too modest' to discuss this aspect of his career, but his contribution was noted with the award of anOBEin 1974.

Published works

• Nigel Groom.The New Perfume Handbook.Springer.ISBN978-0-7514-0403-6.
• Nigel Groom.Parfums(in French). Éditions Solise (1999).ISBN978-2876773981.
• Nigel Groom,Perfume: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Finest Fragrances1999, Running Press Book PublishersISBN9780762406067
• Nigel Groom,Sheba Revealed: A Posting to Bayhan in the Yemen2002, Arabian Publishing LtdISBN9781900404310

Personal life

Groom’s wife died in 2009; he was survived by a son and a daughter.

Honours

• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire- 1974

References

https:// telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10693078/Nigel-Groom-obituary.html