The Start
Welcome, and thanks for coming to my new website. You will see from my homepage that I’ve recently taken quite a big step (a British under statement if there ever was one…) in leaving the British Foreign Service after more than 20 years. It wasn’t an easy decision after a fascinating career that’s taken me to Morocco, Poland, Iran and the US. But it was time to do something different and open a new chapter.
My first focus is to write a book about the US, its mythology and what that might mean for Western democracy. As I do, I’ll post about some of the themes in the book, including the quirks of American democracy (both good and not so good), the challenges of maintaining the American dream and how the fates of the US and UK are uniquely intertwined, built on our shared history and our common interests and values.
I first came to America as a student 30 years ago and spent a semester on an English Speaking Union exchange programme at Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, a place that is still very close to my heart (check out the school’s website here). It was a life changing experience that certainly influenced my choice to join the foreign service to experience more of the world. Since then I have travelled to more than 40 states around the US both as a tourist and as Deputy British Ambassador over the last 5 years, visiting the UK’s network of consulates and offices in 13 locations around the country. I’ve worked with some fabulous Brits and Americans and learnt a great deal about how similar, and how different, we are. All great material for the book.
I will also post on two of my other passions: leadership and what I’ve learnt to date about inspiring and effective leaders; and encouraging people to contribute to their communities and societies. There will be some more personal stuff too, about the big transition I have chosen to make, taking tough decisions and adapting to a new life as a writer and freelancer.
So do come back to the site, follow me on Twitter and check out my LinkedIn profile – there are links on the website. And feel free to comment too.
Patrick