MYSTERIOUS MR RICKETT

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS MR RICKETT

MAN WHO STARTLED EUROPE Mr F. W. Rickett, _who_ secured the £10,000,000 oil concession in Abyssinia* has long been regarded as a “ mystery, man ”, in London. “ Ho has for years been associated with,the oil industry, but chiefly as a concessionaire. His successes have been amazing,” said a friend to a ‘ Sunday Express ! representative. “Ho has, four private secretaries. One is always on duty,: nd 1 matter at what time. ■ ‘‘ A man of slightly over 40 years o£ age,, he has astonishing vitality. I have’ known lum to be at the city office at 9 o’clock in the morning, charter a private aeroplane, and lunch on the .Continent, and return to London to keep” a business appointment in the early, 1 evening. “He never seems to need rest. It is his boast that he could carry on quite; comfortably with four hours’ sleep ouhj of the 24. ‘ Too much time is wasted l ! in sleeping,’-he has declared on. more’ than one occasion. "I have heard that he has been iaP the city' as a negotiator and a seeker 1 out of concessions for about 20 years. “He' has been associated with many! international financial duels duriiigthe; last 10 years, but he has always avoided publicity. Among his friends are somerj pf the most famous men in the world off finance. “ He has certainly spent a long time] in the Near East developing concession*; for different concern*. “ But so secretive is he about hi*! affairs that there arc few who knowj exactly the extent of his interests. “ He obtains concessions in the oilindustry on behalf of others for com-* mission. ’ “ I might almost describe him as * successful dreamer. “He is one of those men who can" see ahead of time and. plan accordingly.; He will not trust others tr carry out' his schemes. “ The fact that he was associated; with, the American concern: for whi ch' he has secured the Abyssinian «mces* i sions was not known in tbe city. “Indeed, no one seems to know any-; thing concerning the; syndicate, but it may, be taken for granted-.that since] P.W.R. is associated with. it is has a.’ powerful backing. “ Within a few years Rickett has, amassed a fortune which runs into.sixj figures. Yet his name does not appear,! in any official list of directors,, of conW panics. ' “ He is a keen sportsman, and is mas-* ter of the Craven Hunt. “He lives in a magnificent countrymansion near Newbury, Berks. He is 1 the owner of Amroth Castle, Pembroke-' shire, - formerly the home of Lord Kylsanfr.” •