Colin Perchard, a British Council diplomat who spent 47 years promoting UK cultural and educational ties worldwide, has died aged 85. He was appointed CVO by Queen Elizabeth II after orchestrating a major cultural programme for India's 50th independence anniversary in 1997.
Early life and career
Born in occupied Jersey to farmers Win (née Horn) and Bill Perchard, Colin attended Victoria College and became the first in his family to attend university, studying history at Liverpool and graduating in 1963. Determined to work in postcolonial Africa, he joined the British Council and was posted to Malawi as an assistant representative in 1964. There he met Elisabeth Jones, marrying her in 1970.
Key postings and achievements
After a brief posting to Calcutta (now Kolkata), Colin was sent in 1972 to open a new British Council office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, following the liberation war. This was the first of several new centres he developed, followed by South Korea in 1973 and Zimbabwe in 1980. For his impact on educational and cultural life in Zimbabwe after years of racism and war, he was appointed OBE in 1985.
During his tenure in Delhi as minister (cultural affairs), the British Council fostered partnerships between India and the UK in education, science, technology, and the arts. His most visible achievement was the cultural programme for India's 50th independence anniversary, coinciding with the Queen's state visit in 1997, for which he was made CVO.
Legacy and retirement
Colin's defining legacy was the programmes for change he created and the lasting connections with people of all kinds. He and his wife Lis were a tremendously effective partnership in developing warmth and appreciation for the UK worldwide. After retiring in 2000, he returned to Jersey's cultural life, serving as a trustee for several international and local organisations. An autoimmune disease deprived him of mobility but never his optimism. He is survived by Lis and their sons Nick, Jonty, and Adam.
