John Nicholas

Sir John William Nicholas (13 December 1924 – 15 February 2019) was a British civil servant and diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka from 1979 to 1984.

Early life and education

Nicholas was born on 13 December 1924 in Worcester, the son of Harry Nicholas, a butcher, and Gladys née Taylor. He was educated at Holly Lodge Grammar School and the University of Birmingham where he took a degree in History.

Career

After serving during World War II with the 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army from 1944 to 1947, Nicholas joined the civil service and worked in the War Office until 1957. That year he transferred to the Commonwealth Relations Office (later the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and was posted as first secretary to the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur where he served from 1957 to 1961.

Nicholas then served in the Commonwealth Secretariat as director of its Establishments and Finance Division from 1971 to 1973, and from 1973 to 1974 was Head of the Pacific Dependent Territories Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 1973 to 1974, he served as deputy high commissioner at Calcutta, and from 1974 to 1976 as consul-general at Melbourne. In 1979, he was appointed High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and also Ambassador (non-resident) to the Republic of the Maldives, a post he held until his retirement in 1984. A highlight of his tenure was the Queen's state visit to Sri Lanka in 1981 which was followed later that year by a knighthood. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1981.