David Roberts

Sir David Arthur Roberts (8 August 1924 – 7 June 1987) was a British diplomat who held several senior overseas posts during the latter half of the 20th century. Over the course of his career in the Diplomatic Service, he served as British ambassador to Lebanon, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, and was High Commissioner to both Barbados and Sierra Leone. He was appointed KBE, CMG, and CVO.

Career David Roberts was educated at Hereford Cathedral School and Jesus College, Oxford. After wartime service in the Royal Armoured Corps he joined the Diplomatic Service in 1947. He served in Baghdad, Tokyo, Alexandria, Khartoum, Dakar, Damascus and Dubai, with some intervening posts in London, before being appointed High Commissioner to Barbados in 1971. Roberts was Ambassador to Syria 1973–76; High Commissioner to Sierra Leone 1976–77; Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates 1977–81; and Ambassador to Lebanon 1981–83. He was knighted in the New Year Honours in 1983 and was director-general of the Middle East Association 1983–85. In 1985 he was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Durham University.

Sir David was chairman of Herefordshire District Health Authority from 1986 until his death.

Publications The Ba'th and the Creation of Modern Syria, Palgrave, 1987.