John Adye

Sir John Anthony Adye KCMG (born 24 October 1939) is a former Director of the British signals intelligence agency, GCHQ, a post he held from 1989 to 1996.[1]

Career

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Adye was born to Arthur Francis Capel Adye and Hilda Marjorie (née Elkes). Educated at Leighton Park School and Lincoln College, Oxford,[2] Adye joined GCHQ in 1962 becoming Director in 1989. After retiring from GCHQ in 1996, he served as the chair of the Country Houses Association until 2002.[3] In 1993 Adye was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[1] In 2005 he was appointed to the board of the US National Biometric Security Project.[3]

Adye was a witness in February 2008 at the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales: in an unprecedented move (normal policy is neither to confirm nor deny operational activities), he strenuously denied that GCHQ had any involvement in either the Camillagate or Squidgygate tapes.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Adye, Sir John (Anthony), (born 24 Oct. 1939), Director, Government Communications Headquarters, 1989–96", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u5064, retrieved 2021-08-03
  2. ^ Burke's Peerage
  3. ^ a b National Biometric Security Project
  4. ^ Diana's calls 'not bugged by GCHQ' Metro, 28 February 2008
Government offices
Preceded by Director of GCHQ
1989–1996
Succeeded by