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Tom Kennedy obituary Tom Kennedy obituary
(7 months later)
My father, Tom Kennedy, who has died aged 92, was an economist, civil servant and academic. His father, also Tom Kennedy, was a Labour MP in Scotland and a chief whip before the second world war. From him, Tom inherited a lifelong love for the Labour party, although he could be its most trenchant critic in some of its dafter moments.My father, Tom Kennedy, who has died aged 92, was an economist, civil servant and academic. His father, also Tom Kennedy, was a Labour MP in Scotland and a chief whip before the second world war. From him, Tom inherited a lifelong love for the Labour party, although he could be its most trenchant critic in some of its dafter moments.
He was born in Dulwich, south London. During the second world war, Tom worked as an air-raid warden during the blitz in London. From 1945 he studied economics at Durham University and in 1947 he became president of the Durham Student Union Society.He was born in Dulwich, south London. During the second world war, Tom worked as an air-raid warden during the blitz in London. From 1945 he studied economics at Durham University and in 1947 he became president of the Durham Student Union Society.
While campaigning for the Labour party in 1945, he met Audrey. After graduation they married and he began his career as a civil servant at the Board of Trade. In 1955 he and Audrey took the decision to move with their young family to Kampala, Uganda. There, Tom took up the chair of economics at the University College of Makerere (now Makerere University). Tom sat as a member of Kampala city council and worked as a stringer for the Guardian. During the run-up to independence, he met and advised Milton Obote, Uganda's prime minister, on development economics. He was deeply distressed when Obote's subsequent government became increasingly despotic.While campaigning for the Labour party in 1945, he met Audrey. After graduation they married and he began his career as a civil servant at the Board of Trade. In 1955 he and Audrey took the decision to move with their young family to Kampala, Uganda. There, Tom took up the chair of economics at the University College of Makerere (now Makerere University). Tom sat as a member of Kampala city council and worked as a stringer for the Guardian. During the run-up to independence, he met and advised Milton Obote, Uganda's prime minister, on development economics. He was deeply distressed when Obote's subsequent government became increasingly despotic.
In 1961 Tom returned to Britain and resumed his civil service career. He worked his way up the greasy pole to undersecretary, successively in the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the newly created Department of Energy and the National Economic Development Office.In 1961 Tom returned to Britain and resumed his civil service career. He worked his way up the greasy pole to undersecretary, successively in the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the newly created Department of Energy and the National Economic Development Office.
He took early retirement in 1981 and then worked for the World Bank and the United Nations, specialising in energy planning and economic forecasting in developing countries. After a gruelling year in Bangladesh for the UN, Tom became a fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1995 he completed his cherished project of writing a biography of HM Hyndman, a founder of the Labour party and a friend and mentor to his father.He took early retirement in 1981 and then worked for the World Bank and the United Nations, specialising in energy planning and economic forecasting in developing countries. After a gruelling year in Bangladesh for the UN, Tom became a fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1995 he completed his cherished project of writing a biography of HM Hyndman, a founder of the Labour party and a friend and mentor to his father.
As Tom once wrote, "When our parents die, whole sections of the reference library are closed."As Tom once wrote, "When our parents die, whole sections of the reference library are closed."
Audrey died in 1991. Tom is survived by my two sisters, Ros and Diki, myself, four grandchildren and a great-grandson.Audrey died in 1991. Tom is survived by my two sisters, Ros and Diki, myself, four grandchildren and a great-grandson.
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