Reginald Fletcher, 1st Baron Winster

Early Life and Education

Reginald Thomas Herbert Fletcher, 1st Baron Winster KCMG (27 March 1885 – 7 June 1961), was a British politician who served as Governor of Cyprus and Minister of Civil Aviation. He was the second son of mathematician Nicholas Fletcher (1848–1905) from his marriage to Dinah Wright († 1912). His father was a professor at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

Military Career

Fletcher was brought up by private teachers at Shirley House Blackheath before deciding to join the Royal Navy. He began training on the cadet training ship HMS Britannia in Dartmouth in 1899. During World War I, he served as an officer of the Royal Navy and participated in various battles, including Gallipoli. After the war, he served as head of the Naval Intelligence Division.

Political Career

Fletcher's political career began after his military service. He was elected as Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Basingstoke in 1923 by a margin of 348 votes but lost the seat in 1924. In 1935, he was elected Labour MP for Nuneaton.

Governor of Cyprus and Minister of Civil Aviation

In 1946, Fletcher was appointed Governor of Cyprus, a position he held until 1949. He also served as Minister of Civil Aviation under Clement Attlee between 1945 and 1946.

Peerage

Fletcher was raised to the peerage as Baron Winster of Witherslack in Westmorland on [date not specified].

Personal Life

Reginald Fletcher died on 7 June 1961, at Uckfield, Sussex.