William Rees-Davies (Conservative politician)
William Rupert Rees-Davies QC (19 November 1916 – 12 January 1992) was a British Conservative politician.
Early life
Rees-Davies was the son of Sir William Rees-Davies, Chief Justice of Hong Kong. He was born in Hong Kong while his father was serving as Chief Justice. His grandfather was William Davies, Liberal MP for Pembrokeshire[1]
He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a cricket blue.[2] He also played for the Kent Second XI. He was a right-arm fast-medium bowler.[3]
Non-political career
He was a barrister, called to the bar by Inner Temple in 1939. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1973.[4] He was commissioned in the Welsh Guards in 1939 and served until 1943 when he lost his right arm on service during World War II.[5] Because he had lost his arm, he was some time referred to as the "one armed bandit".[6]
Political career
Rees-Davies contested Nottingham South in 1950 and 1951. He was Member of Parliament for the Isle of Thanet from a 1953 by-election to 1974, then for Thanet West from 1974 to 1983 when his seat was abolished in boundary changes.[7]
References
- ^ Obituary of William Rees Davies, The Daily Telegraph, 14 January 1992
- ^ Obituary of William Rees Davies, The Daily Telegraph, 14 January 1992
- ^ Cricinfo records for Rees Davies
- ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45967/page/5543/data.pdf
- ^ Obituary of William Rees Davies, The Daily Telegraph, 14 January 1992
- ^ https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/judges-at-wits-end/41180.article
- ^ Obituary of William Rees Davies, The Daily Telegraph, 14 January 1992
- Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Rees-Davies
- Cricket career
- Photos of Rees-Davies from the SEAS archives
External links
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1916 births
- 1992 deaths
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Welsh Guards officers
- British Army personnel of World War II
- People educated at Eton College
- Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
- Members of the Inner Temple
- British amputees
- UK MPs 1951–1955
- UK MPs 1955–1959
- UK MPs 1959–1964
- UK MPs 1964–1966
- UK MPs 1966–1970
- UK MPs 1970–1974
- UK MPs 1974
- UK MPs 1974–1979
- UK MPs 1979–1983
- Cambridge University cricketers
- British politicians with physical disabilities
- Welsh cricketers