Sir
Denis Rickett
KCMG CB
Sir Denis Rickett in 1960
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
In office
1950–1951
Prime MinisterClement Attleee
Preceded byLaurence Helsby
Succeeded byDavid Pitblado
Personal details
Born
Denis Hubert Fletcher Rickett

(1907-07-27)27 July 1907
Died26 February 1997(1997-02-26) (aged 89)
Spouse
Ruth Armstrong
​
(m. 1946)​
Children3
EducationRugby School
Alma materBalliol College, Oxford
OccupationInternational Finance
AwardsCMG (1947)
CB (1951)
KCMG (1956)

Sir Denis Hubert Fletcher Rickett, KCMG CB (27 July 1907 – 26 February 1997), was a British civil servant who served as Clement Attlee's Principal Private Secretary (PPS) from 1950 to 1951 and as vice-president of the World Bank from 1968 until 1974.[1][2]

Early life

Denis Hubert Fletcher Rickett was born on 27 July 1907, to the family of the owners of the coal merchants firm of Rickett & Cockerell, which through mergers and acquisitions became the eventual owners of the Falkland Islands Company. After studying at Rugby School he matriculated to Balliol College, Oxford graduating in 1929. Although he went on to win a prize fellowship to All Souls College, Oxford he chose to leave academia and instead join the civil service.[2]

Career

Sir Denis Rickett's career began at the Economic Advisory Council in 1931. He rose through the ranks to become Clement Attlee's Principal Private Secretary during 1950–1951. After various roles in the Treasury and Whitehall, he left to become vice-president of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Washington, then under the leadership of Robert McNamara, a position he enjoyed from 1968 to 1974.[2]

Rickett was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1947 King's Birthday Honours,[3] Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1951 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours[4] and knighted (KCMG) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1956.[5]

Personal life

Denis Rickett was personally wealthy owning his own Rolls-Royce. He was also a talented amateur pianist. In 1946 Sir Denis married Ruth Armstrong, a doctor. He had three children, two sons and a daughter.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sir Denis Rickett". The Times. 10 March 1997. p. 23. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Sir Denis Rickett: Unflappable mandarin with intellect, wealth and taste". The Daily Telegraph. 6 March 1997. p. 27. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Page 2576 | Supplement 37977, 6 June 1947 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Page 6236 | Supplement 39396, 27 November 1951 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Page 3102 | Supplement 40787, 25 May 1956 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
Government offices Preceded byLaurence Helsby Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1950–1951 Succeeded byDavid Pitblado
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