' s ▁College , ▁Cambridge ▁and ▁later ▁did ▁post grad uate ▁research ▁in ▁Arab ▁national ism ▁at ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁Centre ▁in ▁Oxford ▁and ▁the ▁American ▁University ▁in ▁C airo . ▁He ▁joined ▁the ▁diplom atic ▁service ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁and ▁retained ▁his ▁link ▁with ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁throughout ▁his ▁career . ▁ ▁Diplom atic ▁career ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁– ▁Bah rain ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁– ▁Foreign ▁and ▁Commonwealth ▁Office , ▁London ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁– ▁Gene va ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁– ▁Sof ia ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁( approx ) ▁Jed da ▁ 1 9 8 2 ▁- ▁Foreign ▁and ▁Commonwealth ▁Office , ▁London ▁( Head ▁of ▁Mar itime , ▁A viation ▁and ▁Environment ▁Department ) ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁– ▁Be ir ut ▁( Am b assador ) ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁– ▁Paris ▁( Am b assador ▁and ▁UK ▁P erman ent ▁Represent ative ▁to ▁the ▁Organisation ▁for ▁Econom ic ▁Co - operation ▁and ▁Development ) ▁ 1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 6 ▁Belg ium ▁( Am b assador ) ▁ ▁Later ▁career ▁Gray ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁Foreign ▁Office ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁and ▁on ▁returning ▁to ▁Wales ▁became ▁involved ▁in ▁public ▁and ▁community ▁affairs , ▁including : ▁A ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Card iff ▁Bay ▁Development ▁Corporation ▁A ▁trust ee ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Botan ic ▁Garden ▁of ▁Wales . ▁ ▁App oint ment ▁as ▁Honor ary ▁Cons ul ▁of ▁Belg ium