Convener: Diego Sánchez Ancochea
His Excellency Orville London was born in the village of Parlatuvier in Tobago, the smaller of the two islands in the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago. He obtained his primary school education at the Whim Anglican Primary School, and secondary education at Bishop’s High School in Mt. Marie, Scarborough. After graduation, he pursued an undergraduate degree at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, graduating with Honours in History and Sociology.
He then embarked upon a teaching career, which spanned twenty-three years, climaxing with a six-year stint as Principal of the Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive School. He also taught International Relations at various secondary schools throughout Tobago, and lectured at the UWI School of Continuing Studies, Tobago Campus, after successfully completing postgraduate studies in Education and International Relations at his alma mater, UWI St. Augustine.
He has always been passionate about sports and has held key positions in the Tobago Football, Cricket, and Lawn Tennis Associations over the years. His wide interests also extend to journalism, and as a past Sports Editor of the Tobago News, he was able to marry these two passions in one career.
In 1995, His Excellency entered the political domain as a Senator in the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He served as a Councillor in the Tobago House of Assembly from 1996 to 2000, and in 2001, he began his first term of office as Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly. He served four consecutive terms as Chief Secretary until he demitted office on January 26, 2017. He also served as Tobago Political Leader, People’s National Movement (PNM) during the period 2013-2016; Political Leader, Tobago Council of the PNM during the period 2013-2016; and Deputy Political Leader, PNM during the period 1998-2016.
His Excellency assumed office as the High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Kingdom on May 19, 2017. He is also accredited as non-resident Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.