Mr Nichols then entered the City as a trainee lawyer, and was enrolled as a solicitor in 1976. The following year he entered the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Third Secretary. His first job in London was working on the Bangladesh desk in South Asian Department.

In 1978, Mr Nichols learned Hungarian, and then served for three years (1979-1982) as First Secretary (political and economic) in the British Embassy in Budapest. On his return to London, he entered Energy, Science and Space Department where he covered European Community Energy policy.

In 1985, Mr Nichols learned Portuguese for a posting to Brasilia as First Secretary (Commercial). He returned to London in 1989, working first in Commercial Management and Exports Department, and then in the newly formed Overseas Trade Services, a joint Foreign Office/Department of Trade and Industry Department which Mr Nichols was instrumental in helping to set up. Mr Nichols then moved to Arms Control and Disarmament Department, where, amongst other duties, he led the UK delegation to the Australia Group.

In 1993, Mr Nichols moved on promotion to Counsellor to be Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka. He then became Consul General in Geneva in 1995, and Deputy Head of Mission and Director of Trade Promotion in Berne in 1997. In 2000, Mr Nichols returned to London on secondment to British Invisibles, where he worked as Director for Communication. At the end of the year, he became Acting Chief Executive, and was responsible for renaming and relaunching the organisation as International Financial Services, London. Mr Nichols left IFSL in August 2003 to take up the position of Ambassador to Hungary.

Mr Nichols married Suzanne Davies in 1983. They have two children: a son (1987) and a daughter (1989). Mr Nichols's hobbies include painting (oils on canvas: landscapes), opera, concert going, cycling, walking and gardening. He speaks German, French, Hungarian, Portuguese and some Italian.


When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
August 2003, as British Ambassador

Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Hungary 1979-1982, Brazil 1985-1989, Bangladesh 1993-1995, Switzerland 1995-2000

What surprised you most about Hungary?
The pace of development

Friends are in Budapest for a weekend -what must they absolutely see and do?
The Castle, Heroes Square, the covered market

What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Hortobágy pancakes

What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Cheese, a bottle of mineral water

What is your favourite Hungarian word?
I don't have one

What do you miss the most from home?
BBC Radio 3: but that is now available on the web

What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Business, gardening - plenty of choice

What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Although I enjoy sports, I would not be much good as a professional

Where did you spend your last vacation?
Malta

Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Italy

What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Kenneth Clark's series on "Civilisation", and painting.

Red wine or white?
Either

Book or movie?
Book

Morning person or night person?
All day

Dog person or cat person?
Dogs - two black Labradors

Buda side or Pest side?
Both

What would you say is your personal motto?
Carpe diem - seize the day.