MR ROBERT (JOHN) ALSTON (HM Ambassador at Muscat) Mr Alston was born at Haywards Heath, Sussex, on 10 February 1938 and was educated at Ardingly College and New College, Oxford. After graduating he did National Service from 1956 to 1958, commissioned in the Royal Sussex Regiment. He entered the Foreign Service in 1961 and was assigned to full-time Persian language study at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and in 1962 he went to Tehran to complete his studies. From 1963 to 1965 he served at Kabul and then returned to London for a full tour of duty. After attending a Treasury Administrative course he joined Eastern Department in the Foreign Office at the beginning of 1966 and three years later he was appointed Head of a Computer Study Team attached to Personnel Policy Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. At the end of 1970 he was posted to Paris as First Secretary (Economic) and British Representative on the Co-ordinating Committee (COCOM). From 1974 to 1977 he served as First Secretary and Head of Chancery at Tehran before returning to London once more. He worked for a year as Assistant Head of Energy, Science and Space Department in the Fco and from May 1978, on promotion to the rank of Counsellor, he became Head of the Joint Nuclear Unit. In 1981 he was assigned as Head of Chancery at the UK Delegation to NATO in Brussels and from June 1984 to April 1986 he served in the FCO as Head of Defence Department. He took up his present appointment in June 1986. In 1969 Mr Alston married Patricia (Clare) Essex. They have a daughter born in 1970, and a son, born in 1972. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE NOVEMBER 1986 OM2AQE
