Andrew Robathan

In September 2014 Robathan announced he would stand down at the 2015 general election,^[1] and was nominated for a life peerage in 2015 Dissolution Honours,^[2] being created Baron Robathan, of Poultney in the County of Leicestershire, on 13 October 2015.^[3]

Early life[edit]

Robathan was born on 17 July 1951. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, an all-boys public school in Northwood, London. He went up to read Modern History at Oriel College, University of Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1973, later proceeding Master of Arts.

Military career[edit]

Robathan was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards as a Second Lieutenant (on probation) (University Candidate) on 6 October 1974. He was given the service number 498738.^[4] His commission was confirmed and he was given seniority as a Second Lieutenant from 6 April 1971. He was promoted to lieutenant, back dated to 6 October 1974, with seniority from 6 April 1973.^[5] Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, he was promoted to major on 30 September 1984.^[6] He served for a period of time with the Special Air Service (SAS),^[7] and retired on 27 August 1989 being appointed to the Reserve of Officers.^[8]


He worked for BP from 1991 to 1992, but volunteered to return to the Army between January and April 1991 during the First Gulf War, serving as Chief of Staff of the Prisoner of War Guard Force in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.^[9]