STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
JAMES PATRICK IVAN HENNESSY CMG OBE
Mr Hennessy was born on 26 September 1923. He is married with five daughters. He speaks Spanish, French, Sotho and some German. He was educated at Bedford School and Durham University.
From 1942-46 he served in the Royal Artillery where he finally attained the rank of Acting Major.
In 1948 he was appointed to Basutoland as an Administrative Cadet and served in both District and Secretariat posts until 1957, when he
became Secretary to the Constitutional Committee. From 1959-60 he
was Supervisor of Elections and Secretary for the Executive Council. From 1961-63 he was seconded to the High Commissioner's Office in Pretoria/Capetown. From 1964 until his retirement in 1968 he was a Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs. He became a member of the Diplomatic Service in 1968 and served as First Secretary FCO
until 1970 when he became First Secretary and Head of Chancery in
Montevideo. In 1972 he returned to the FCO as Assistant Head of
South East Asian Department. In 1973 he became Acting later High Commissioner in Kampala. In 1977 he became Consul General in Capetown where he is still serving.
Mr Hennessy has a calm and sensible approach to problems. He has shown good judgement in difficult situations and shouldered respons- ibility well. He did an excellent job in difficult circumstances at Montevideo, particularly when he was in charge of the post following the kidnapping of the Ambassador Mr G Jackson. Kampala has been even more testing. In his two years there as Acting High Commissioner he cannot be faulted over his handling of successive crises in Anglo-
Ugandan relations, culminating in the Hills affair, over which he won the respect and confidence of the Secretary of State. He is at his best when in command and dealing with tricky situations.
Mrs Hennessy has supported her husband well and is a good hostess.
FEBRUARY 1979
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
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