His Excellency Major
Fernley Webber
CMG TD MC
Fernley Webber in 1965
4th British High Commissioner to Brunei
In office
1 August 1965 – October 1967
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byEdgar Liard
Succeeded byArthur Adair
Personal details
Born(1918-03-12)12 March 1918
Died1991 (aged 73–74)
Alma materJesus College (BA)
OccupationMilitary officer and diplomat
Military service
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1940–1945
RankMajor
Battles/warsWorld War II

Major Fernley Douglas Webber CMG TD MC (12 March 1918 – 1991), sometimes referred to as Awang F.D. Webber,[1] was a British diplomat and formerly the British High Commissioner to Brunei.[2]

Early life

Webber was born on 12 March 1918,[3] and educated at the Cotham Secondary School.[4] He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Jesus College and began work with the Colonial Office in 1939.[5] Amid the outbreak of the Second World War, he served in the military from 1940 until 1945, earning the rank of Major.[6] After his time in the military, he worked as the Private secretary to Minister of State Colonial Office, as Assistant Secretary in 1950, as Establishment Officer Colonial Office from 1950 to 1958, and lastly the Head of East Africa Department Colonial Office from 1958 to 1965.[7]

Diplomatic career

Webber's diplomatic career began after being appointed as the Deputy High Commissioner to Kuching in 1965.[7] On 1 August 1965, he became the new high commissioner to Brunei, replacing Edgar O. Liard.[2][8] During his time in Brunei, he attended key events such as the wedding of Princess Nor'ain Bolkiah in August 1967.[1] Early that year in February, he gave the reassurance of the British government being keen on seeing positive constitutional changes in Brunei.[9] In conjunction to the 1967 Birthday Honours, he awarded the Order of the British Empire Commander (CBE) to Brunei Financial Officer, John Lee.[10] Notably, Webber was appointed as Brunei's Scout Chief.[11]

He was transferred to the British High Commission in Canberra in October 1967.[3][12] Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III was worried when the Commonwealth Office informed him that F.D. Webber would be moving to Australia. The Sultan wanted him to stay because he was concerned that if the High Commissioner changed, the Commonwealth Office would adopt a much stricter stance regarding Brunei's constitutional progress. Consequently, the Sultan's attempt in revoking Webber's transfer was unsuccessful.[9]

Death

Webber passed away in 1991.[13]

Honours

Fernley Webber was given the honorary title of Yang Terutama (His Excellency) by the Government of Brunei.[1] He would go on to earn the following awards;[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Semoga Allah Chuchuri kebahagiaan ka-atas kedua Pengantin Di-Raja" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 23 August 1967. p. 1.
  2. 1 2 Office, Great Britain Diplomatic Service Administration (1967). The Diplomatic Service List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 141.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Who's who. A. & C. Black. 1968.
  4. ↑ The Journal of Education. W. Stewart & Company. 1935. p. 722.
  5. ↑ Office, Great Britain Diplomatic Service Administration (1966). The Diplomatic Service List. H.M. Stationery Office.
  6. ↑ Office, Great Britain Colonial (1950). The Colonial Office List, Comprising Historical and Statistical Information Respecting the Colonial Empire, List of Officers Serving in the Colonies, Etc. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 620.
  7. 1 2 Office, Great Britain Diplomatic Service Administration (1966). The Diplomatic Service List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 307.
  8. ↑ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (2009-12-22). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. pp. xxxvi. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
  9. 1 2 "Brunei's Political Development Between 1966 And 1984" (PDF). University of Leeds. August 2006. pp. 58, 64–65.
  10. ↑ "Sambutan hari keputeraan Baginda Queen" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 14 June 1967. p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Y.A.B. Dato Seri Paduka Marsal Merasmikan Pembukaan Perkhemahan Pengakap Seluroh Negeri Brunei" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 3 May 1967. p. 5.
  12. ↑ Bakar, Nani Suryani Abu. "Brunei relations with Malaysia 1963 1983". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ↑ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (2009-12-22). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
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