[4] He graduated from St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1995, with a degree in Earth Sciences.

Later postings took him to Washington, D.C., Kabul, Abuja and then to Yemen, as British ambassador.

[7] He returned to London as Director of National Security for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in February 2018.

[3] In December 2004, Shercliff was awarded an OBE in the Civilian Honours list "in recognition of services to the reconstruction of Iraq and towards its transition to democracy".

[9] In the 2021 New Year Honours Shercliff was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) "for services to British foreign policy and National Security.