Francis Richards (diplomat)

Sir Francis Richards, KCMG, CVO ( born 1945 ) was Governor of Gibraltar from 2003 to 2006.

His father Sir Brooks Richards served during the Second World War in the Special Operations Executive.

Richards attended Eton College and then studied at King's College (Cambridge). Then he made ​​a career in the British Army and was stationed in Cyprus, among others.

After his army career had to end because of injury, he joined the diplomatic service and was used, among other in Moscow, Vienna, New Delhi and Namibia, before he took high office in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

From 1998 to 2003 he was director of the Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ; engl for Government Communications Headquarters. ) In Cheltenham. His successor is David Pepper.

Richards is married and has two children.