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22nd September 2016

Honorary Fellow Sir Ronald Arculus (1941, Modern Languages) dies aged 93

Exeter College is sad to report the death, on 28 August, of Exeter alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Sir Ronald Arculus KCMG KCVO.

Sir Ronald was educated at Solihull School before coming up to Exeter College in 1941 to read Modern Languages. He served in the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars from 1942 until 1945, then joined the Diplomatic Service in 1947. During a distinguished diplomatic career Sir Ronald served at the Foreign Office and in British missions at San Francisco, La Paz, Ankara, Washington, D.C., New York, and Paris. He was ambassador to Italy from 1979 until 1983, his last diplomatic post before retirement. He was knighted KCMG in 1979 on his appointment to the embassy at Rome. He was given the additional knighthood of KCVO following the Queen’s state visit to Italy in October 1980. The Italian government made him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.

Sir Ronald’s wife Sheila died in 2015.  He is survived by his children Juliet and Gerald and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday 15 October at 12.30 pm at Christ Church, Victoria Road, Kensington W8 5RQ.

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