My friend, Nicholas Fenn, who has died aged 80, was an outstanding member of his generation of the diplomatic service, with postings all over the world.
He was born in London, son of the Rev Eric Fenn, Presbyterian theologian, college principal and deputy head of BBC religious broadcasting, and his wife, Kathleen (nee Harrison). He attended Downs preparatory school, Malvern, and Kingswood school, Bath. Nick did his national service as a pilot in the RAF, then went to Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating with a first in history.
Joining the diplomatic service straight from university, he and his new wife, Susan (nee Russell), were set to learn Burmese and spend four colourful years in what was then a democracy rent by 21 different uprisings. There followed four even more colourful years in London as personal secretary to four foreign secretaries in the 1960s, including George Brown. During the next 11 years he worked in Algiers, the United Nations in New York, London and China.
Nick came to public attention as spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the Lancaster House talks that led to the change from Southern Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. When, in 1982, he was offered the choice of several ambassadorships, he chose to return to Burma, by then a brutal military dictatorship. He and Susan managed to cultivate what became a long friendship with Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition.
In 1986 they moved to Dublin, where in 1976 the previous ambassador, Sir Christopher Ewart-Biggs, had been blown up by the IRA. Despite being surrounded by rigorous security both in Ireland and the UK, the couple retained their good humour and hospitable bonhomie. In 1991 Nick was knighted and sent to be high commissioner in India until his retirement in 1996.
Following his retirement, he was director of the Marie Curie Cancer charity for five years. Nick and Susan never lost touch with Myanmar, visiting the country and raising money at home for charities there.
He could be described as a Christian liberal, and a shrewd idealist with a gift for seeing what would work and what would not. He and Susan were live wires in their home community of Marden in Kent.
He is survived by Susan, by their children, Robert, Charles and Julia, and by their 10 grandchildren.
