Hugh Craft recalls Sir Sonny Ramphal
Sir Sonny Ramphal was my boss for nine years in London when I was seconded by DFAT to the Commonwealth Secretariat through the '80s. To those of us who knew him well and worked closely with him in Marlborough House he was unique - as a mentor, as a citizen of the world, as a Commonwealth hero, as a conveyor of happiness and optimism and as a good friend. A truly remarkable man.
Sonny was an icon in the international community, a good friend to those of us privileged to work closely with him, his passing the end of an era.
There is a nice story behind the photo in the Times obituary.
R-L Queen Elizabeth, Sonny Ramphal, Desmond Tutu & Hugh Craft (now with RCS ACT)
For those interested in snippets of Commonwealth history in the 80s HM the Queen and Archbishop Tutu had never met until SG Ramphal brought them together in Marlborough House (from memory, at the 1988 Commonwealth Day reception). I was asked by Sonny to 'mind' the Archbishop until he and The Queen emerged from the Green Room (having been involved in discussions with Tutu in South Africa with the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group led by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and former Nigerian President Obasanjo). The first of many future happy meetings between the Head of the Commonwealth and the Archbishop.
With great memories and admiration. His memory and legacy will be long remembered.
For more information and tributes go to:
Click here to see the Times Article.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/01/sir-shridath-sonny-ramphal-obituary
