Ken Churchill was a specialist in international cultural relations whose career spanned the continents of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He was known for his knowledge of and empathy with other societies, their peoples and history. In a career of 35 years, he built numerous bridges between educational and arts organisations in Britain and other countries.

Kenneth Churchill joined the British Council overseas career service in 1973 after gaining his PhD from Clare College, Cambridge. His early career took him to Madras, Rome and then to the British Council literature department as assistant director, where he was responsible for running the English studies seminar chaired by Malcolm Bradbury and featuring among others Margaret Drabble, John Fowles, David Lodge and Charles Tomlinson. A passion for literature stayed with him through his career and in 1980 Macmillan published his book, Italy and English Literature 1764-1930.

Further postings took him to Ghana, France, Ireland and Belgium. It was perhaps in Ireland that he made his strongest mark, opening the first British Council operation there in 1989. Security was an issue at the time, but despite this he worked hard to build cultural relations between Britain and the most important Irish arts organisations, universities and media. In characteristic style he rapidly became highly knowledgeable about Ireland and its history through his voracious reading and he had a great empathy with its people. As a colleague recalls: “He knew how to work and play. When things were quiet in the office he used to go for a walk through the city, as he always said he would run into somebody he knew. He would make time for a chat, a coffee or a Guinness, rightly believing that in Ireland many good relationships are forged in this informal manner. It was one of the reasons he was such a success here.”

Churchill’s last postings were in Beirut and east Jerusalem where he became passionate about the history and culture of the region. Directing the British Council’s work in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza was, for him, an opportunity to learn about the central issue affecting the future of the region. At every opportunity he jumped into his car to explore another part of the area and quite by chance colleagues discovered that he was working on a book about the history of the region, although in his natural modesty he had told no one.

While director in the Palestinian territories, he expanded the council’s work to support the teaching of English in schools across the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem and to build more links between Palestinian and British schools. He believed passionately in the power of education and in the importance of dialogue between cultures. One of the last initiatives he supported was a writers tour that brought internationally acclaimed authors such as Roddy Doyle, William Dalrymple and Ahdaf Soueif to packed audiences in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Churchill was planning to move to another posting. As always, he put the organisation first, being willing to go wherever it was felt his talents and experience were most suited.

Churchill was divorced and is survived by a daughter and a son.

Kenneth Churchill, British Council representative, was born on June 28, 1947. He died of cancer on May 26, 2008, aged 60