Obituary : Sir Christopher John Audland KCMG

Sir Christopher Audland, who has died aged 93 was an Honorary President of Europa Nostra. He was awarded a Europa Nostra Medal of Honour in 2004. The Medals of Honour are the highest distinction conferred by Europa Nostra to individuals who have made notable contributions to promoting the mission and raising the profile of the organisation.

On leaving Winchester College he joined the British Army (1944-1948) serving in both the Middle East and Greece. His ambition was to join the Diplomatic Service, a career which he entered in 1948.

As a Diplomat he was Chief Negotiator of one of the Bonn Conventions and later was No 2 of the British team which negotiated the Four Power Agreement on Berlin of 1971. He was Deputy Head of the UK Representation to the Council of Europe in the 1950’s and a member of Prime Minister, Edward Heath’s, team which attempted to negotiate British entry to the European Community in 1960. In 1973, he became an official of the European Community, serving for nine years as Deputy Secretary-General of the Commission and then a further five years as Director-General for Energy.

In retirement, he became Executive (now Honorary) President of Europa Nostra, and was co-founder of the European Opera Centre, Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University (1990-97) and a Founder Trustee of the Ruskin Foundation. He was a member of the Northwest Regional Committee of the National Trust (1987-95) and of the Lake District National Park Authority.

He was Vice-President of Europa Nostra (1988-91) and President of the International Castles Institute (ICI)(1990-91). Europa Nostra merged with ICI in 1991. He became Executive President of Europa Nostra in 1992 which role was renamed Honorary President in 1997 and he continued to be one of the Honorary Presidents until his death.

His wife Maura survives him together with his children Rupert, Claire and William and grandchildren Edwin and Esme.

Sir Christopher Audland, born 7 July 1926, died 29 December 2019