Alan Payne

A diplomatic globetrotter whose heart was stolen by Devon

Alan Payne, 83, lives in splendid isolation deep in the heart of West Devon, between Lewdown and Bratton Clovelly. It’s a far cry from the embassies of Budapest or Mexico City, or the offices of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and Kingston, Jamaica - yet this fascinating and articulate man, who has lived and worked all over the world, says his current home has been his best.

‘It was a wise decision to move here,’ says Alan. ‘The most wonderful thing about it is the extraordinary concern that people in this community show for every aspect of what you are doing, without in any way being nosey. It’s the most sensitive, caring community we have ever discovered in all our years of globetrotting.’

As a boy growing up in Enfield, Alan experienced the terrors of the Second World War blitz. "I think until then I was too young to be aware of the danger, but what really did make its mark on me was the intense austerity that the war imposed on everyone. Even now I absolutely hate waste. I don’t easily throw things away which drives my family scatty!" he laughs.

A graduate of Queens' College, Cambridge, he joined record giant EMI and spent several years in Paris, before being persuaded to use his talent for languages in the service of his country, working first for NATO and then joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1965. More than twenty years of worldwide postings followed, including periods as First Secretary (Defence) in Kuala Lumpur, Head of the Mexico and Caribbean Department in the FCO in London, British Consul General in Lyons, British High Commissioner in Kingston, Jamaica and non-resident Ambassador to Haiti, during which time he was awarded the CMG (The Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) in 1988.

A modest man with a great sense of humour, it’s easy to imagine Alan sliding with ease between French, English or Russian languages, oiling the machines of diplomacy with eloquence, charm and liberal servings of gin and tonic - "no-one has invented a better way of getting to know someone than gin and tonic!" Alan claims.

Throughout these years, his rock and stalwart was his wife, Letitia. "In the Foreign Office your wife is part of the team, a crucial part of it," said Alan. "I was wonderfully backed up by Letitia." They have three sons and are now also grandparents to two boys and two girls.

On moving to Devon, Alan and Letitia threw themselves into local life. Alan explained: ‘It was a bit like a new posting. We joined our local church, we joined Red Spider, the local amateur dramatic group and I was invited to join the board of governors at Lew Trenchard Primary School. I later became a member of an independent review panel for West Devon Borough Council. That was very worthwhile and I am very glad I did it.’

Very sadly, Letitia began to show early signs of dementia and in 2007, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. She passed away earlier this year. Alan said: ‘It has been a remorseless journey. In the early days I made a private vow that I would do my best to find something positive out of something wholly negative, by getting involved in anything that spread knowledge of this awful disease.’ Alan has become vice chairman of Tavistock Memory Café.

He reflects: ‘Dementia is a dreadful condition, the dismantling of a personality, piece by little piece. You face the process of grieving almost daily for what has been lost.’

Despite his obvious pain, Alan is positive about the changes that are taking place in awareness of dementia and his natural optimism is evident when he reflects on his life in the service of his country.

‘We are very good at what we do in the international field - everyone else recognises that we are not lightweights, yet sometimes we are our own worst enemy in being critical of ourselves when actually, we punch very much above our own weight.’