Two of her history tutors recognised her academic excellence, encouraged her to apply for St Hilda's, Oxford, a women-only college, in 1952. She passed the civil service with flying colours, and was asked to enter the diplomatic corps. The Foreign Office mandarins were entirely male during her first posting in London. Hughes was sent to The Hague. From there she spent three and a half years in Bangkok, as Second Secretary, during decolonisation and a rising tide of communism in south-east Asia. After another stint in London, this time for five years, she was made First Secretary for the prestigious Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
She was asked in 1975 to take the tough role of negotiator in East Berlin missions in a divided city during the Cold War détente, having as a visiting fellow to St Anthony's already established an international reputation. Colleagues apparently recalled her good sense of humour, as absurdist. In an existential world of hardship and political paranoia she remained "cantankerous". During the 1980s she had a three-year posting to Bonn (West Germany) speaking several foreign languages.[3] Recalled to London, she served as assistant undersecretary of state at the Foreign Office for two years.
Oxford University
Having graduated with a first class degree in history from Oxford, Hughes returned on being elected as a visiting fellow of St Anthony's. She was appointed as principal of Somerville College in 1989, at the height of Thatcherism. Next to Somerville was Green College, a new foundation. In 1991, she married the acting Warden of Green College, Dr Trevor Hughes. The fellows of Somerville, who included the Prime Minister, were strongly opposed to any dilution of the last bastion of femininity at the most ancient university in the British Isles. Hughes believed her management style was more primus inter pares than the Cabinet's. Men were finally admitted to Somerville in 1994 and Hughes retired two years later.
Later life and death
On retirement with her husband, Hughes remained in close contact with Oxford. She was a member of St Frideswide's Book Club, named after the Oxford martyr. Founded by Sir Roger Bannister, Hughes was an early member of an elite set. Suffering from cancer, which was borne with courage she travelled, enjoying cruises.[5] In 2014 she established the Rhabanus Maurus Travel Grant.[6]
Dr Alice Prochaska, who was then Somerville College Principal, and one of her successors, paid a glowing tribute
This is a very sad time for the whole College. Catherine Hughes was an insightful, effective and much respected Principal. She was kind and considerate to all her colleagues, and much concerned with the intellectual development and well-being of the students. She and her husband, Trevor Hughes's wonderfully generosity to Somerville on behalf of students and Fellows has made a significant difference. At this time, we remember above all a much-loved and very distinguished Principal, who held Somerville close to her heart.
References
^ ab"Catherine Hughes". The Times. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
^Sleeman, Elizabeth, ed. (2001). The International Who's Who of Women 2002 (3rd ed.). London: Europa Publications. pp. 258–259. ISBN1857431227.
^ ab"Catherine Eva Hughes (née Pestell) 14.9.1933 – 10.12.2014". Somerville College, Oxford. 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015.
^"Catherine Hughes". Civilservant.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
^"Obituary: Catherine Hughes, 'insightful' principal of Somerville College who oversaw admission of first male students". Oxford Mail. 8 January 2015. from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^. St Hilda’s College. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
catherine, hughes, diplomat, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, catherine, hughes, diplomat, news, news. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Catherine Hughes diplomat news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Catherine Eva Hughes CMG nee Pestell 24 September 1933 10 December 2014 was a British diplomat and academic administrator She served as Principal of Somerville College Oxford from 1989 to 1996 1 Catherine HughesPrincipal of Somerville College OxfordIn office 1989 1996Preceded byDaphne ParkSucceeded byFiona CaldicottPersonal detailsBornCatherine Eva Pestell 1933 09 24 24 September 1933County Durham EnglandDied10 December 2014 2014 12 10 aged 81 SpouseTrevor Hughes m 1991 2014 wbr EducationLeeds Girls High SchoolAlma materUniversity of Oxford Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Diplomatic career 3 Oxford University 4 Later life and death 5 ReferencesEarly life and education EditHughes was born on 24 September 1933 in County Durham England to Edmund Pestell and his wife Isabelle Pestell nee Sangster 2 3 Having won a scholarship she was educated at Leeds Girls High School a selective private school in Leeds 1 She then studied history at St Hilda s College Oxford and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts BA degree 4 Diplomatic career EditTwo of her history tutors recognised her academic excellence encouraged her to apply for St Hilda s Oxford a women only college in 1952 She passed the civil service with flying colours and was asked to enter the diplomatic corps The Foreign Office mandarins were entirely male during her first posting in London Hughes was sent to The Hague From there she spent three and a half years in Bangkok as Second Secretary during decolonisation and a rising tide of communism in south east Asia After another stint in London this time for five years she was made First Secretary for the prestigious Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development OECD in Paris She was asked in 1975 to take the tough role of negotiator in East Berlin missions in a divided city during the Cold War detente having as a visiting fellow to St Anthony s already established an international reputation Colleagues apparently recalled her good sense of humour as absurdist In an existential world of hardship and political paranoia she remained cantankerous During the 1980s she had a three year posting to Bonn West Germany speaking several foreign languages 3 Recalled to London she served as assistant undersecretary of state at the Foreign Office for two years Oxford University EditHaving graduated with a first class degree in history from Oxford Hughes returned on being elected as a visiting fellow of St Anthony s She was appointed as principal of Somerville College in 1989 at the height of Thatcherism Next to Somerville was Green College a new foundation In 1991 she married the acting Warden of Green College Dr Trevor Hughes The fellows of Somerville who included the Prime Minister were strongly opposed to any dilution of the last bastion of femininity at the most ancient university in the British Isles Hughes believed her management style was more primus inter pares than the Cabinet s Men were finally admitted to Somerville in 1994 and Hughes retired two years later Later life and death EditOn retirement with her husband Hughes remained in close contact with Oxford She was a member of St Frideswide s Book Club named after the Oxford martyr Founded by Sir Roger Bannister Hughes was an early member of an elite set Suffering from cancer which was borne with courage she travelled enjoying cruises 5 In 2014 she established the Rhabanus Maurus Travel Grant 6 Hughes died on 10 December 2014 7 Dr Alice Prochaska who was then Somerville College Principal and one of her successors paid a glowing tribute This is a very sad time for the whole College Catherine Hughes was an insightful effective and much respected Principal She was kind and considerate to all her colleagues and much concerned with the intellectual development and well being of the students She and her husband Trevor Hughes s wonderfully generosity to Somerville on behalf of students and Fellows has made a significant difference At this time we remember above all a much loved and very distinguished Principal who held Somerville close to her heart References Edit a b Catherine Hughes The Times 11 February 2015 Retrieved 11 February 2015 Sleeman Elizabeth ed 2001 The International Who s Who of Women 2002 3rd ed London Europa Publications pp 258 259 ISBN 1857431227 a b Catherine Eva Hughes nee Pestell 14 9 1933 10 12 2014 Somerville College Oxford 11 December 2014 Archived from the original on 11 February 2015 Catherine Hughes Civilservant org uk Retrieved 17 August 2016 The Times 11 February 2015 Obituary Catherine Hughes insightful principal of Somerville College who oversaw admission of first male students Oxford Mail 8 January 2015 Archived from the original on 3 June 2021 Retrieved 30 November 2018 Catherine Hughes 1933 2014 St Hilda s College Archived from the original on 12 February 2015 Retrieved 11 February 2015 Academic officesPreceded byDaphne Park Baroness Park of Monmouth PrincipalSomerville College Oxford1989 1996 Succeeded byFiona Caldicott Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catherine Hughes diplomat amp oldid 1163224853, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
