R. P. Gaddum

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.

Hon. Reginald Percy Gaddum
Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Appointed member
In office May 1952 – December 1956
State Council of Ceylon Appointed member
In office 30 April 1938 – 10 January 1939
Preceded by	Evelyn Charles Villiers
Succeeded by	Evelyn Charles Villiers
Personal details
Born	28 July 1898 Gampola, Sri Lanka
Died	1957
Spouse(s)	Doreen Eleanor née Burmester
Relations	George Percy (father), Jessie Doris (mother)
Children	Elizabeth Jessie Moyra Eleanor Patricia Benita Shelagh Ann Ruth Phoebe

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]

References

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