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R. James deRoux

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Jamaican Custos Rotulorum

The HonourableR. James deRouxCD, JP
deRoux in 2011
5th Custos Rotulorum of Clarendon
In office
5 May 1981 – 31 July 2011
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors GeneralSir Florizel Glasspole
Sir Howard Cooke
Kenneth O. Hall
Sir Patrick Allen
Preceded byDr. Abner Wright
Succeeded byWilliam Shagoury
Personal details
BornRobert James deRoux
(1930-03-17)17 March 1930
Mandeville, Colony of Jamaica
Died25 November 2012(2012-11-25) (aged 82)
May Pen, Jamaica
Spouse(s) Ruth Reader ​ ​(m. 1951; died 1999)​
Audrey DaCosta ​(m. 2001)​
Children3
Occupation
  • Philanthropist
  • Businessman

Robert James deRoux, CD, JP. (March 17, 1930 – November 25, 2012) was a Jamaican businessman and the longest-serving Custos in Jamaican history. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Clarendon for 30 years.

Early life

deRoux was born on 17 March 1930 in Mandeville, Manchester, the only son and second child of Robert Redvers deRoux, a hardware merchant, and Marie Lucille (née Fowles). The deRoux family came to Jamaica as a part of the wave of French refugees fleeing the Haitian Revolution and settled on the island as merchants, clerks, and planters. He was a descendant of the Lindo family, an eminent Sephardic Jewish family, through his father who was a great-grandson of fellow Custos Alexander Joseph Lindo.

He attended Cave Valley Elementary School and Jamaica College, where he was schoolmates with Michael Manley, and excelled in football and diving.

Career

A prominent businessman, deRoux inherited his family's hardware business Stork's deRoux & Son Ltd., and was the Managing Director until his retirement. In 1962 he was named as one of the inaugural Justices of the Peace for the newly independent Jamaica.

In 1964 he founded and was President of the May Pen Business Association which was the forerunner of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, of which he served as first Vice President from 1968 to 1975.

An active community member, he served as Vice Chairman of the May Pen Secondary School, Member of the Board of Management of Glenmuir High School, Director for the Hardware Merchants Association, Honorary President of the Clarendon Cultural Development Committee, President of the Clarendon Level Scouts Association and Chairman of Vere Free Schools Trust.

deRoux and the Custodes Rotulorum for Manchester, The Hon. Dr. Gilbert Allen and for St. Catherine, Rev. The Hon. Mrs. Sophia Azan, at the Governor General's Consultative Youth Breakfast at the Caymanas Golf Club, May, 2009

On May 5, 1981, he was appointed the fifth Custos of Clarendon, the Governor-General’s representative in the parish, and Chief Magistrate for the parish by then Governor General Florizel Glasspole. He served under four different Governors-General and acted as Deputy Governor General on three occasions.

After thirty years of service, he retired on July 31, 2011, and was succeeded by businessman William Shagoury. Due to the historic nature of his tenure, his Roll of Justices of the Peace was inducted into the National Archives of Jamaica.

Personal life

deRoux was married twice, and had three sons.

On November 25, 2012, he died in May Pen, Clarendon at the age of 82 of lung cancer.

Awards and honours

In 1983 he was awarded the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation by Edward Seaga.

He was awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander in 2002.

He was posthumously awarded the Governor-General's Medal of Honour in recognition of his service to the country in 2023 on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.

References

  1. ^ "Custos James deRoux retires". jamaica-gleaner.com. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Sir Patrick names Clarendon's new custos". jamaica-gleaner.com. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. "41 New Justices of The Peace for Clarendon – Jamaica Information Service". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Family, friends pay last respects to James deRoux". jamaica-gleaner.com. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. Neita, Lance (26 November 2016). "Sir Donald Sangster: From local government to prime minister". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. Roux, Storks De; Limited, Son. "Storks De Roux & Son Limited - 24939 - Jamaica business overview". JamaicanCompanies.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  7. "Deroux Storks & Son". Jamaica Index!. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. opencorporates.com https://opencorporates.com/companies/jm/24939. Retrieved 2 September 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "Retired Clarendon custos lauded". jamaica-gleaner.com. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ^ "CT". www.discoverjamaica.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. "Personalities". discoverjamaica.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Custos of Clarendon Retires – King's House". 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. ^ "William Shagoury Sworn In As New Custos of Clarendon – King's House". 4 October 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  14. ^ "New Custos of Clarendon Takes Oath on September 7 – Jamaica Information Service". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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