Jim Poston
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Poston, CBE
(19 June 1945 – 13 October 2007) was a British diplomat who was Governor
of the Turks and Caicos Islands
from 2002 to 2005. Poston succeeded acting Governor Cynthia Astwood
on 16 December 2002.
Poston was born in 1945 in St Albans
, a city in southern Hertfordshire
, England
. He was the son of an Anglican priest and a social worker. He was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge
before going on to attend Exeter University, where he studied French and history. After graduating in 1970, he joined the Foreign Office.
Poston served as the British
consul general to New England
from 1995 until 1999. While there, he arranged for the then Unionist
leader David Trimble
to visit and meet local Irish-Americans
. He also served the Foreign Office in Brussels, Israel
, Nigeria
, and South Africa
.
Poston died on 13 October 2007 at the age of 62. He was survived by his wife Romey, daughters Izzy and Kate, and son James.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(19 June 1945 – 13 October 2007) was a British diplomat who was Governor
Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Turks and Caicos Islands. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government...
of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
from 2002 to 2005. Poston succeeded acting Governor Cynthia Astwood
Cynthia Astwood
Cynthia Astwood served as the acting Governor of the Turks and Caicos from 1986 until 16 December 2002, when she retired and was succeeded by Jim Poston. She was the first woman to act as Governor of the Turks and Caicos.-References:...
on 16 December 2002.
Poston was born in 1945 in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, a city in southern Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was the son of an Anglican priest and a social worker. He was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
before going on to attend Exeter University, where he studied French and history. After graduating in 1970, he joined the Foreign Office.
Poston served as the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
consul general to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
from 1995 until 1999. While there, he arranged for the then Unionist
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
leader David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
to visit and meet local Irish-Americans
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
. He also served the Foreign Office in Brussels, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Poston died on 13 October 2007 at the age of 62. He was survived by his wife Romey, daughters Izzy and Kate, and son James.