Stanley Tomlinson

Sir (Frank) Stanley Tomlinson (21 March 1912 – 10 September 1994) was a British diplomat who served as British High Commissioner to Ceylon between 1966 and 1969.

Early life and education Tomlinson was born on 21 March 1912 in West Yorkshire, the son of J. D. Tomlinson, a police officer, and Mary Tomlinson. He was educated at High Pavement School, Nottingham, and University College, Nottingham where he took a degree in economics. In 1970, Nottingham University awarded him an honorary doctorate of law.

Career Tomlinson entered the Consular Service in 1935 after competitive examination. He then served in Japan from 1935 to 1941; at Saigon as vice-consul from 1941 to 1942; and in the United States from 1943 to 1945. He was acting consul-general at Manila in 1945 when the War ended and he reopened the British consulate. He was charge d’affaires there in 1946. In 1947, he was at the Foreign Office before he was transferred in 1951 to the Embassy in Washington serving as counsellor until 1954. From 1966 to 1969, he served as British High Commissioner to Ceylon. In 1969, he was appointed deputy under-secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Asia, Information and Culture), remaining in the post until his retirement in 1972.

In retirement, Tomlinson served as chairman of civil service selection boards and immigration appeals tribunals. He also rewrote the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Handbook on Diplomatic Practice. and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1966 Birthday Honours.