One of the most remarkable stories in the history of European diplomacy is surely that of Vincas Balickas, a Lithuanian diplomat who arrived in London in 1938 - and ended up in post, without any chance of relief or retirement, for the next 53 years...

In 1940, less than two years after Balickas arrived in London, his country was occupied by the USSR, but the UK permitted a Lithuanian legation to remain at 84 Gloucester Place and diplomats from the occupied Baltic states retained diplomatic status

As time went on, however, Balickas's Baltic diplomatic colleagues began to pass away, and by 1981 Balickas was the only remaining survivor of diplomats representing the pre-War Baltic republics, and the longest serving foreign representative to the Court of St James

Meanwhile, the ageing Balickas continued to issue Lithuanian passports, entirely ignoring the illegal occupation of Lithuania by the USSR, and informally represented Latvia and Estonia too, whose ambassadors had died. But he declared that he would never retire

But then the seemingly impossible happened. Lithuania made its stand for freedom, and was recognised by the UK in August 1991. In October Lithuanian diplomats arrived at Gloucester Place and a relieved Balickas - by now aged 87 - handed over the keys. His long service was done