Sir Peter Ramsbotham

Correspondence, notes and cuttings on all aspects of Sir Peter's involvement with Leonard Cheshire himself, his wife Sue Ryder, and their charitable works worldwide, especially the Leonard Cheshire and Ryder-Cheshire charities. Includes particular reference to the establishment and management of the World Memorial Fund for Disaster Relief.

Peter Edward Ramsbotham was born at Kensington, London in 1919, the son of conservative politician Herwald Ramsbotham. Educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford University he joined the Army Intelligence Corps in 1943 where he served until the end of the Second World War. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1945.

After the war he joined the Foreign Office and had a successful career. He was Her Majesty's Ambassador to Iran 1971-1974; HM Ambassador to USA 1974-1977; Governor and Commander in Chief, Bermuda 1977-1980. He was appointed Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in 1964; A KCMG in 1972, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1976; and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) in 1978, retiring from the Foreign Office in 1980. After retirement he became trustee of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire's foundations and also Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire in 1992.

Sir Peter Ramsbotham first encountered Leonard Cheshire's work as British Ambassador in Washington during the 1970s. His daughter had become disabled due to a road traffic accident and he and his first wife Frances were prime supporters of the expansion of Cheshire services for disabled people in the USA and elsewhere. He remained a friend and adviser to Cheshire, serving as Trustee and Vice President, and as Chairman of the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation.

Sir Peter Ramsbotham was a Trustee of Leonard Cheshire from 1981-1994 and Chairman of Ryder-Cheshire 1982-1999.

Sir Peter Ramsbotham died in 2010.

The papers have been divided into two series, over 22 boxes, although there is likely to be much overlapping: 1 correspondence by subject; 2 miscellaneous correspondence

Access is granted by appointment with the Archivist, address: Leonard Cheshire Disability Archive Centre, Newlands House, Main Street, Netherseal, South Derbyshire, DE12 8DA email archivecentre@leonardcheshire.org.

Access to a section of Ramsbotham 14 is closed.

Donated by Sir Peter Ramsbotham in 1994.

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