My friend and colleague Tessa Solesby, who has died aged 83, was one of the first women in the diplomatic service to achieve the rank of ambassador, when she was appointed leader of the UK delegation to the disarmament conference in Geneva in 1987.
The disarmament conference had the important task of drafting a convention to prohibit the production and use of chemical weapons and to provide for the destruction of existing stockpiles under international supervision. Tessa’s arrival in Geneva coincided with the ending of the cold war and she was able to accelerate the pace of the complex negotiations. After nearly five years of patient diplomacy, she had the satisfaction of seeing the new chemical weapons convention adopted by the UN general assembly in 1992.
Born in London, daughter of Charles Solesby, a businessman, and his wife, Hilda (nee Willis), Tessa was educated at Clifton high school, Bristol, and St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She joined the diplomatic service in 1956 and served in Manila, Lisbon, Geneva and New York. Promoted to counsellor in 1975, she was posted to the Nato Secretariat in Brussels and East Berlin before returning to New York as acting minister.
She was head of the Central Africa department from 1982 until 1986 and moved to Pretoria on promotion to minister. This posting was cut short when the leader of the UK delegation to the disarmament conference in Geneva retired prematurely on health grounds. With her experience of UN diplomacy, Tessa was well qualified to succeed him and took up her post with the personal rank of ambassador.
Tessa was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1986 and elected an honorary fellow of St Hugh’s in 1988. After retirement, she became chief officer of Age Concern in York (1992-97), and settled in North Yorkshire. She was a keen hill walker and loved music, particularly opera, and travel, visiting the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica. She admitted to wondering if this last destination had been a step too far when the ship encountered a terrifying and prolonged storm on the return journey.
Tessa was dignified in manner but always approachable, a good person to work for and a generous host. She was a lucid and firm advocate and a careful listener. She had a wonderful sense of humour and ability to be amazed. She made many friends.
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