Following postings to, amongst other places, West Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow and Washington, D.C., he was HM Ambassador to Italy from 1983 to 1987.

[5] Having failed to attend during the whole of the 2015–16 session without being on leave of absence, he ceased to be a member on 18 May 2016 pursuant to section 2 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.

They had three children: The Conservative peer The Lord Bridges of Headley is his nephew.

[8] In the 1983 New Year Honours, Bridges was promoted within the same Order as a Knight Commander (KCMG).

[9] In the 1988 New Year Honours, Bridges was promoted within the same Order as a Knight Grand Cross (GCMG).