Arthur Roy Handasyde Kellas (6 May 1915 â 6 March 2007) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to Nepal from 1966 to 1970, ambassador to People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) from 1970 to 1972 and high commissioner to Tanzania from 1972 to 1974.
Kellas was born in Scotland on 6 May 1915, the second son of Henry Kallas and Mary Kellas (née Brown) of Aberdeen. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, University of Aberdeen and Balliol College, Oxford.
Kellas entered the diplomatic service in 1939. After the outbreak of World War II that year, he was commissioned into the Border Regiment, and later served with 1st Batallion, Parachute Regiment, and was mentioned twice in despatches.
In 1944, Kellas was posted to Tehran as third secretary and in the following year was promoted to second secretary. In 1948, he was sent as first secretary to Helsingfors. From 1951 to 1952, he served as first secretary (press) at Cairo, and during his posting was declared persona non grata on the grounds that his activities were against the interests of the Egyptian regime, a charge denied by the British government. Then from 1954 to 1958, he served as first secretary at Baghdad. After promotion to counsellor, he was sent to Tehran and remained in the post until 1963 when he spent a year at Imperial Defence College.
From 1964 to 1965, he was counsellor and consul-general at Tel Aviv. He then served as ambassador to Nepal from 1966 to 1970; ambassador to People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) from 1970 to 1972, and high commissioner to Tanzania from 1972 to 1974.
From 1975 to 1979, Kellas served as president of the Britain-Nepal Society.
He married Katharine Bridget, daughter of John Le Rougetel, in 1952, and they had two sons and a daughter.
Kellas died on 6 March 2007, aged 91.
Kellas was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in theÃÂ 1964 New Year Honours.