William Rees-Davies
Encyclopedia
William Rupert Rees-Davies (19 November 1916 – 12 January 1992) was a British
Conservative
politician.
Rees-Davies was the son of Sir William Rees-Davies, Chief Justice
of Hong Kong
. He was educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he gained a cricket
blue
. He was a barrister, called to the bar by Inner Temple
in 1939. 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
. He was president of the National Confederation of Road Transport Clearing Houses.
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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Rees-Davies was the son of Sir William Rees-Davies, Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he gained a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
. He was a barrister, called to the bar by Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1939. He was commissioned in the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
in 1939 and served until 1943 when he lost his right arm on service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was president of the National Confederation of Road Transport Clearing Houses.
Rees-Davies contested Nottingham South
Nottingham South (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham South is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1950 and 1951. He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Isle of Thanet
Isle of Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)
Isle of Thanet was a county constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election....
from a 1953 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to 1974, then for Thanet West
Thanet West (UK Parliament constituency)
Thanet West was a British parliamentary constituency in the Isle of Thanet, in Kent.It was created for the February 1974 general election, and returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
from 1974 to 1983 when his seat was abolished in boundary changes.