R. P. Gaddum Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Hon.
Reginald Percy Gaddum
Constituency Mp2:Appointed member
Parliament2:Ceylon
Term Start2:May 1952
Term End2:December 1956
Order3:State Council of Ceylon
Office3:Appointed member
Term Start3:30 April 1938
Term End3:10 January 1939
Predecessor3:Evelyn Charles Villiers
Successor3:Evelyn Charles Villiers
Birth Date:28 July 1898
Birth Place:Gampola, Sri Lanka
Death Date:1957
Spouse:Doreen Eleanor née Burmester
Relations:George Percy (father), Jessie Doris (mother)

Reginald Percy Gaddum (28 July 1898  - 1957) was a tea planter in Ceylon[1] [2] and a member of parliament[3] from 1952 to 1956.

Reginald Percy Gaddum was born in 1898 at Gona Adika Estate in Gampola, the son of George Percy and Jessie Doris. His father was an Englishman who had arrived in Ceylon in 1891.[4] [5] Gaddum began his planting career as a "creeper" at the age of 15 years. In 1935 he became the youngest Chairman of the Planters' Association of Ceylon,[6] a position in which he served for three years.[7] On 30 April 1938 he was appointed as a member of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon, following the resignation of Evelyn Charles Villiers.[8] In 1939, he became a director of a commercial firm[6] and resigned from the State Council on 10 January.

Gaddum was a keen sportsman, especially in tennis where he teamed up with his brother-in-law to win the national doubles title in three successive years in the early 1920s.[6]

During the First World War he served as a squadron leader of the Royal Air Force.[6] [9]

Gaddum was a nominated member of the second Parliament (1952-1956).[2] [6] He ended his career as Managing Director of Aitken Spence.[5] [10]

Gaddum married Doreen Eleanor née Burmester at St. Paul's Church, Kandy, they had five daughters, Elizabeth Jessie (1923–1990), Moyra Eleanor (1924–2012), Patricia Benita (1926–2013), Shelagh Ann[5] (1928–2004) and Ruth Phoebe (1933–2015).[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's Who of Ceylon. 1920. 77.
  2. News: Shelagh Cotton – 'Lanka's Greatest Sportswoman'. The Island. Norman. Gunewardene. 1 February 2004. 18 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Hon. Gaddum, Reginald Percy, M.P.. Parliament of Sri Lanka. 18 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Planters Registry: G. P. Gaddum. History of the Ceylon Tea. Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company. 18 January 2018.
  5. News: Adieu to Shelagh Cotton. Daily News. Pam. Fernando. 22 January 2004. 18 January 2018.
  6. Parliamentary Debates. 1957. 1308–1310. Parliament of Sri Lanka.
  7. Year Book of the Planters' Association of Ceylon Kandy. 1938. 8.
  8. Members of the Legislatures of Ceylon: 1931-1972. Parliament of Sri Lanka. 1972. 52.
  9. News: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. London Gazette. 19 October 1954. 5911.
  10. Book: Who's Who in U.A.R. and the Near East. Blattner, Elwyn James. Blattner, James Elwyn. Paul Barbey Press. 1955. 366.