Deter Suppress Extract! by Richard Keightley

Author:Richard Keightley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Modern / General
ISBN: 9781912174379
Publisher: Helion and Company
Published: 2015-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

Visit of HRH The Princess Royal to Beirut: Mr (later ‘Sir’) David Roberts, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Lebanon with the Princess Royal. Behind the Princess is Chief Inspector Phil Challenger, Metropolitan Police, to his left, SSgt Ken Blake RMP, Cpl Bob Simpson RMP and top right is Cpl Mel Turner RMP.

On 21st August, French paratroopers arrived in Beirut, followed by the US Marines, some Italian Bersaglieri and a squadron of British Cavalry thus forming an international peacekeeping force of some 2,000 men. This force supervised the removal of the PLO, first by ship through the port and then overland to Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan and Syria. Many Palestinian civilians remained in West Beirut.

The Embassy staff and the CP team re-occupied their original residences within West Beirut and the Embassy on the Corniche reopened. Whilst some embassies had suffered considerable damage, we found that the Embassy and our residences, with the exception of the odd broken window, were intact. Life returned to a more normal pattern with the Lebanese Army and Police taking more control of the streets. The Ambassador continued with his daily routine with the weekend spent in Abey and the cool of the mountains.

In September 2002, the Princess Royal visited as President of the Save the Children Fund. The day began at Beirut Airport, where the Ambassador, along with members of the Lebanese Government, greeted her. From the airport, we moved to the Ambassador’s residence with the Met Police Protection Officer and the Ambassador’s BG in the Ambassador’s car with two principals, whilst the Cp team and 2nd Protection Officer formed the PES. In addition, we were accompanied by a platoon of the Lebanese Special Forces assigned to accompany us during the visit.

At the residence, the Princess Royal was introduced to each team member before departing for various schools and the University Hospital in Beirut. The visit was a great success with the Princess being well received wherever she went. At one school, a photographer kept getting too close and was clearly upsetting the Princess. A quick word to the Lieutenant in charge of the SF [Special Forces] platoon and the photographer was whisked away.

So impressed was the Princess, she offered the Team Leader a job back in the UK – he explained that unfortunately such treatment would not be tolerated there!

In the 1983 New Years Honours, the Ambassador David Roberts was awarded a Knighthood. This was a great culmination to our tour. He was a pleasure to work for and gave the team unreserved support throughout their tour. The last members of the initial RMP CP team departed the Lebanon on 3rd January 1983. We had come through the experience unscathed and our reputation intact. We had formed an immense fondness for the Lebanese people and were extremely grateful for the loyalty and friendship shown to us by the local staff, some of whom still work for the Embassy to this day.”

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