5/10/2011
The Canberra Times
Noel Unwin was
the senior member (engineer) of a contingent of (5 or 6)
Australians who were seconded to the British Diplomatic Technical
Maintenance Service (DTMS) at Hanslope Park, circa 1967/8. The
purpose of their secondment mirrored that of the Canadian secondees and
that was for the purpose of training in the art of Technical Security with
a view to establishing their own profession within their Foreign Service.
He arrived at the Park after having served in the Australian foreign
service as a maintenance engineer following a posting in Singapore.
It was intended and eventually transpired that he establish and head the
Australian Technical Security group once his training period was
completed. A position he held until retirement. He was very
personable and popular with his colleagues as well as the his British
and Canadian counterparts.
Accompanying him to the UK was his first wife, Ruth and three children,
Lorraine, Steven and David. His personal interests included the
acoustic guitar and flying. He held a private pilot's licence, occasionally
flying out of Sywell airport. Over the course of time, he would
eventually marry three times (Ruth, then Lynda and finally Sue).
He remained in contact with all of his wives and children throughout the
years, remaining with Sue.
DGW 27 October 2011