Lord Grey of Naunton, who died on October 17th aged 89, was a New Zealander who, following a distinguished career in Britain's colonial administration, became the last Governor of Northern Ireland and served during some of the most difficult years of the Troubles.
He was said to have misgivings about his posting to Northern Ireland from the Bahamas and to have taken it up only out of a sense of duty. But when he left after five years he had won the admiration of many. He never completely severed his links with Northern Ireland and was Chancellor of the University of Ulster until 1993.
He was born Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 15th, 1910. He studied law at Auckland University College and at the age of 22 he was a judge's assistant in the Supreme Court of New Zealand.
He might have remained in New Zealand but for a decision by the British government to admit people from the Dominions to its colonial administration. He took the opportunity and was sent to Nigeria where he was to spend the bulk of his career. He later described Nigeria as his "first and longest love".
In 1959 he became Governor of British Guiana and in 1964 he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas where preparations for independence were under way.
He was created a life peer in 1968, the year in which he went to Northern Ireland as governor. His period in office included some of the most difficult of times for Northern Ireland - the sectarian events leading up to the arrival of British troops in 1969, Bloody Sunday in January 1972 and the civilian car bombings and other atrocities which followed the introduction of direct rule and the proroguing of the Stormont parliament.
For a man of his energy and ability it must have been frustrating to watch events unfold without being in a position to take a direct part in dealing with the situation, as his post was largely ceremonial.
He is said to have been critical of the Stormont government and of its handling of the crisis.
He was in no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. When James Callaghan was Home Secretary (1967-1970) in Harold Wilson's Labour government, Lord Grey told him, "I think that you are in for a conflagration." He made sure to cross the sectarian divisions in his contacts. He was well-liked by those who met him from both the unionist and nationalist sides and was reported on one occasion as saying "so far both sides have been extremely nice to me. I only wish they were a little nicer to each other."
The office of Governor was abolished when the Heath government introduced direct rule and appointed Mr William Whitelaw as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1972.
Nevertheless, when he left in 1973, his departure was preceded by a petition signed by 130,000 unionists urging him to stay as the symbol of Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.
He was a Freeman of Belfast and London and was president of the Scout Council for Northern Ireland. He was Lord Prior of the Order of St John from 1988 to 1991.
Lord Grey was known as a great and courteous conversationalist with a sharp wit and he was fond of golf and gardening.
He made Naunton, near Cheltenham, his home and rarely attended the House of Lords.
His wife Esme died in 1996. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.
Lord Grey of Naunton: born 1910; died October, 1999