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Robin Catford
Sir Robin Catford, KCVO, CBE (11 January 1923 – 27 May 2008) was a British civil servant who served as the Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary to Margaret Thatcher and John Major.[1] Early lifeSir Robin attended Hampton Grammar School before reading Agriculture at St Andrews University and St John's College, Cambridge.[1] CareerAfter Cambridge, Sir Robin joined the Sudan Civil Service for nine years. On his return to Britain, he entered industry and worked for Fisons.[2] In 1966, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as Principal Secretary, eventually becoming under-secretary in 1979.[3] In 1982, Sir Robin was appointed Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary, succeeding Colin Vyvyan Peterson. He was responsible for advising the Prime Minister on Crown appointments.[2] These largely consisted of senior Church of England appointments but also included, for instance, the selection of Ted Hughes to succeed John Betjeman as Poet Laureate.[4] In 1988, Sir Robin helped Margaret Thatcher to write her "Sermon on the Mound" speech.[5] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1993.[6] Personal lifeHe married Daphne Georgina Darby in 1948. She died in 2005.[7] Sir Robin and Lady Catford together had three sons and a daughter.[8] His recreations were listed in Who's Who as "Sailing, theatre, travel, arts, avoiding gardening".[3] He was a devout Anglican and a member of the Diocesan Synod of Chichester.[9][4] References
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