MYSTERIOUS MR RICKETT.

Western Star, 3 December 1935, Page 4

MYSTERIOUS MR RICKETT.

Q MAN WHO STARTLED EUROPE. i i Mr F. W. Rickett, who secured the £10,000,000 oil concession in Abyssinia; line long been regarded as a “mystery, man” in London. “He has for years been associated] with the oil industry, but chiefly as aj concessionaire. Hi s successes have been) amazing,” said a friend to a ‘Sunday! Express’ representative “H e has four private secretaries. One! is always on duty, no matter at what? time. >

“A man of slightly over 40 years of age, he has astonishing vitality. I havq known him to be sit- the city office at 9' o’clock in the morning, charter a pri- / vate aeroplane, and lunch on the Con-. -. tinent, and return to London to keep ai business appointment in the earlv evening. ‘ | “He never seems to need rest. It is hi!s boast that he could carry on quits comfortably with four hours'’ sleep outj of the 24. ‘Too much tim© is wasted in; sleeping/ lie has declared on more than! one occasion. “I have heard that he has been iit the city as a negotiator and a seeker out of concessions for about 20 years. “He has been associated with many international financial duels during thn Inst 10 years, but he lias always avoided! publicity. Among hi s friends are some of the most famous men in the world of finance. “He has certainly spent a long time in the Near East developing concessions for different concerns. ‘•But so secretive is he about his affairs that there av© few who know exactly the extent of liis interests. “He obtains concessions in the oil industry on behalf of others for commission. “I might almost describe him as q successful dreamer. He is one of those men who can see ahead of time and plan aceordinglv. He will not trust others to carry out his schemes Ihe fact that bo was associated "i!h the American concern for which lie lias secured the Abyssinian concession was inq known in tb© citv. “Indeed, no on© seems to know anvlliiiig concerning the syndicate but it "'■'.v. I'o taken for granted that since I'.W.R. is associated with it it lias n powerful backing. ‘•Within a few years l.’i.kett has amassed a fortune which runs into sixfigures. Yet his name does not appear in any official list of directors of companies.

“He is a keen sportsman, and is master of the Craven Hunt. “He lives in a . magnificent country mansion near Newbury, Berks He is the owner of Amroth Castle. Pembroke shire, formerly the home of Lord Kylsant.”