Margaret Rothwell
Margaret Irene Rothwell CMG (25 August 1938– 15 September 2022) was a British diplomat.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Edinburgh to Harry Rothwell and Martha (née Goedecke), her mother was Germany.[3] During World War II, Rothwell and her mother were evacuated to a farm in the hills until the birth of her sister in 1945.[3] The family later relocated to Southampton when her father became head of the history faculty at Southampton University, and Rothwell attended Southampton Grammar School.[3]
Career
[edit]In 1957, Rothwell entered the Home Civil Service Fast Stream after studying classics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.[3] Her diplomatic assignments included positions in Strasbourg with the UK Delegation to the Council of Europe, Kenya, Washington, D.C., and Finland.[3] In 1990, she was appointed ambassador to Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Liberia.[3]
Rothwell worked to expand opportunities for female officers within the Foreign Office, including supporting Arabic language training for women, which facilitated their placement in Middle Eastern postings.[3] She continued her involvement with the Foreign Office Association after retirement, serving as editor of its newspaper.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Rothwell remained unmarried.[3] She retired to Hampshire and remained active in her community until her passing in 2022.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rothwell, Margaret Irene, (25 Aug. 1938–15 Sept. 2022), HM Diplomatic Service, retired; Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, 1990–97, and concurrently to the Republic of Niger, the People's Democratic Republic of Burkina and Liberia". doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-33267.
- ^ https://archives.soton.ac.uk/records/MS1/GR/2/5/1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Meg Rothwell obituary". The Times. October 19, 2022.