Tommy Gee, a British colonial administrator whose career spanned continents and was defined by a deep commitment to the communities he served, has passed away at the age of 100. His progressive views, often at odds with the establishment of his time, left a lasting impact on education systems in Africa and the Pacific.
Gee’s path began in Nottingham, England, before leading him to Oxford University and service in the Royal Navy as a chief navigator. His career in public service took a decisive turn with a posting to Uganda in the 1950s. There, as a district commissioner and later secretary to the legislative council, he advocated for greater African involvement in governance—a stance that isolated him from many of his peers who believed in the indefinite continuation of British rule. His principled opposition to the deportation of a local king nearly cost him his position, until a senior official in London intervened to support him.
His dedication earned the trust of Uganda’s new leadership after independence in 1962. Prime Minister Milton Obote personally tasked him with a critical mission: to rapidly expand the nation’s secondary education system. In just three years, Gee oversaw a remarkable doubling of secondary schools, employing innovative methods like recruiting international volunteers to bridge staffing gaps. For this work, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Following his time in Uganda, Gee played a foundational role in academic institutions dedicated to global development. He helped establish the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex before traveling to Fiji to assess the feasibility of a new regional university. His report led to the creation of the University of the South Pacific, where he served as its first registrar. He later held a similar post at a university in Papua New Guinea.
In retirement in West Sussex, he remained active in public life as a local councillor. Characteristically open-minded, he embraced new perspectives throughout his life, changing his religious affiliation in his eighties and embarking on an adventure to the Amazon with his son at the age of 98.
He is survived by his three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne, to whom he was married for over sixty years. Tommy Gee is remembered as a man of principle, a pragmatic reformer, and a lifelong learner whose work helped shape educational opportunities for generations.