bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2011) — Summer/Fall 2011 // Été/Automne 2011, p. 30
Born at Vibank in southern Saskatchewan on August 4, 1928, Robert took his secondary schooling in Regina and his B.A. in political science and history at the University of Saskatchewan in 1949. Sponsored by two of his university teachers, he attended a Colonial Office course at the University of London and joined the British Colonial Service in 1952. He served in Western Nigeria for three years, becoming a District Officer.
He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1956, and went on his first posting to Beirut in 1957. Returning to Ottawa in 1960 he served in the Africa and Middle East Division, followed by a posting to London 1963-65 dealing with African affairs. With the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, Bob was assigned to Lagos with a return to headquarters in 1968 where he served in the Africa and Middle East Division until appointed as Ambassador to Algeria in 1973. He served as Minister in Paris from 1976-80 when he became Ambassador to Egypt with accreditation to Sudan. He was Director- General for the Middle East 1983—85, then Ambassador to Hungary 1985-88 followed by three years as High Commissioner to Nigeria to 1991.
During Bob’s last year before retir ment he returned to the University Saskatchewan as a visiting professor whe he taught a popular course in diplomac At the conclusion of that year his contributions to the University were recognized by the establishment of the Robert Elliott Book Prize to the graduating student with the highest average in the International Relations programme.
Bob then retired to Summerland, B.C. where he died suddenly on January |, 2011. He is survived by his partner Marjorie Evans, his sister Marjorie Creamer and his three children, Bryan, Kevin and Carolann.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2011) — Summer/Fall 2011 // Été/Automne 2011, p. 30. Read the rest of this issue →
