Priscilla Williams

WILLIAMS, Priscilla Jane 1940-2024 QSO. Died at Wellington Hospital in the early hours of her 84^th birthday. Beloved younger sister of Sheila Williams, and daughter of the late Canon Nigel and Nora Williams. Much loved and respected by her large extended Williams whānau and her many friends and colleagues. Donations to the Henry and William Williams Memorial Museum Trust, account number: 03 0518 0168756 00. A service to celebrate Priscilla’s life will be held in St Peter’s on Willis, 211 Willis Street, on Monday 24 June at 11am. Join the livestream at lychgate.co.nz. Messages for the family can be sent care of Lychgate.

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TRIBUTES

Alistair Crozier

I am so sad to hear that Priscilla has passed away – deep condolences on your loss of such a unique person. As you may remember Sheila, Priscilla was my first manager at MFAT from 1995-1997. She was a formidable boss! But also a deeply kind individual – for example, knowing our empoverished state as junior public servants she (and you) invited me and my then-partner to use your bach at Raumati South some weekends, which I will always remember and cherish.

As I am sure many will be commemorating right now Priscilla also broke down gender-based doors and went through glass ceilings as a pioneering woman diplomat and ambassador in the NZ foreign service, something the following generations of women in MFAT have benefitted from. I hope MFAT will acknowledge the role she played in transforming organisational culture in this way.

I feel very privileged to have known Priscilla, and wish you all the best as you celebrate her life and mourn her loss.

Jonathan Austin

As a young policy officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 30 years ago my first overseas work travel was with Priscilla to Istanbul. I learned so much from her back then about what it is to be a diplomat in the field, including the importance of relationships and how to play nice and tough – sometimes at the same time – in multilateral negotiations. We became friends. She was a generous and wise mentor. Later in my career I was honoured to follow in her footsteps as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Tonga. My wife Salote and I are also grateful to Priscilla for the care she provided when Salote came down with malaria while in transit in Sydney. What a wonderful person Priscilla was. May she Rest in Peace.

Lucy Bella

My heart breaks a little with the loss of Priscilla who has always been a powerful presence in my extended family. Nigel and Nora kept us informed about her various postings and occasionally we would get to actually see Priscilla and hear her stories which seemed wonderfully exotic to a kid from rural NZ. As a young adult in Wellington I challenged both Priscilla and Sheila with my punk ideology which they tolerated magnificently. I feel very lucky to have spent a lot of family time with Priscilla when she lived in Sydney. She was a gracious and generous pseudo aunt to my daughters, Allya and Soumia, who received an education in etiquette and diplomacy from one of the best. Rest in peace.

Bill Mansfield

We were very sad to learn of Priscilla’s passing. We had a short overlap with Priscilla on our first posting in New York and enjoyed her company and support. Our work paths did not cross much after that but catch ups were always fun. And we have always been very grateful for her years of outstanding work for the Friends of Bolton Street Cemetery where the graves of my great grandfather (C.D Barraud) and his immediate family are located. My mother and aunt were very upset at the relocation of the family graves occasioned by the building of the motorway but I am sure they would take great comfort from the great advocacy and practical care the Friends have undertaken to ensure the graves in their new locations are respected and the whole cemetery area is beautifully maintained and a great asset to the city and its forbears. Unfortunately we are unable to attend the service today but we will be thinking of you at this sad time and send our sympathy and condolences.

David and Joy Thorp

Priscilla was a friend and colleague where she made her mark in the Government Superannuitants Association where she was awarded life membership. Priscilla shared with us her India experience for a visit to New Delhi.

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