A FORMER Colchester schoolboy has been made a knight in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Diplomat Dr Laurie Bristow has been made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to British foreign policy in the 2019 list.

The 55-year-old was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School before going on the study at Cambridge’s Trinity College.

In 1990, he took up his first Government role with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he went on to become a foremost expert on the country’s relationship with the European Union.

Mr Bristow has since represented the UK with diplomatic roles in countries across the globe, including in Romania, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

In 2016, he was appointed as Ambassador to the Russian Federation - making him a central figure in trying to calm frosty relations between the two countries with incidents including the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

He remains a member of the The Old Colcestrian Society, Colchester Royal Grammar School’s association of former pupils and staff. The group held its annual dinner at the school, in Lexden Road, last week, where the achievements of all its former pupils were celebrated - not least new knight Sir Laurie Bristow.

Old Colcestrian Colonel Richard Kemp, who lives in the Colchester area, said: “This year was the 20th anniversary of admittance of girls into the sixth form, and the honorary secretary of the society, Jodee Mayer, raised a toast to the girls who had attended Colchester Royal Grammar School over those years, many of whom were present, including former school captains.

“The current school captain, Sol Hyde, made an excellent and very humorous speech.

“The president, Greg Dunn, from West Mersea, also addressed the diners after having accompanied the singing of the school song on a black diamond accordion.”

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Colonel Kemp added: “The diners also received an inspiring speech from guest of honour councillor John Jowers, chairman of Essex County Council and a former Colchester Royal Grammar School pupil.

“The society is also proud of another eminent former pupil and society member, Laurie Bristow, British Ambassador in Moscow, who was knighted in the New Year’s Honours list.”

As is traditional at the dinner, the Old Colcestrians played school teams in rugby and netball fixtures.

In two closely fought matches, the society beat the school at rugby, but were defeated by the school at netball.