Saville Garner

Joseph John Saville Garner, Baron Garner GCMG^[1] (14 February 1908 – 10 December 1983) was a British diplomat who served as the British High Commissioner to Canada from 1956 to 1961.

The Right Honourable The Lord Garner GCMG
Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
In office 1962–1965
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Canada
In office 1956–1961
Preceded by	Sir Archibald Nye
Succeeded by	The Viscount Amory
Personal details
Born	Joseph John Saville Garner (1908-02-14)14 February 1908 Muswell Hill, Middlesex
Died	10 December 1983(1983-12-10) (aged 75)
Nationality	British
Children	3
Alma mater	Jesus College, Cambridge

Garner was educated at Highgate School (and was later the school's Chairman of Governors from 1976-83). He won a scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he read Modern and Mediaeval Languages.^[2] He joined the Civil Service in 1930, working in the Dominions Office. J. H. Thomas refused to call him by his customary first name ("What sort of fancy name is that? Ain't you got a plainer name?") and called Garner "Joe" instead, a name which stuck. In June 1954 he was working as Deputy Under-Secretary of State, Commonwealth Relations Office when he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.^[3]

In 1956, he was appointed High Commissioner to Canada and served in that position until 1961. He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George on 1 January 1965.^[4] At the time he was serving as the Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Commonwealth Relations Office. He subsequently served as Head of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.^[5]

Garner was made a life peer on 21 February 1969, being created Baron Garner, of Chiddingley in the County of Sussex, and assuming his seat in the House of Lords.^[6]

References

1. May, Alex (2009). "Garner, (Joseph John) Saville [Joe]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31137. Retrieved 14 July 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
2. Hughes, Patrick; Davies, Ian. Highgate School Register 1833–1988 (7th ed.). pp. 78, 186.
3. The London Gazette (10 June 1954)
4. The London Gazette (1 January 1965)
5. The London Gazette (20 December 1968)
6. The London Gazette (20 December 1968)

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Alexander Clutterbuck	Permanent Secretary of the Commonwealth Relations Office 1962–1966	Succeeded by himself as Permanent Secretary, Commonwealth Office
Preceded by himself as Permanent Secretary, Commonwealth Relations Office	Permanent Secretary of the Commonwealth Office 1966–1968	Succeeded by Sir Morrice James
Preceded by Sir Hilton Poynton as Permanent Secretary, Colonial Office