David Gaiman
Encyclopedia
David Bernard Gaiman was a prominent British member of the Church of Scientology
. He and his wife Sheila joined Scientology in the early 1960s and Gaiman served as public relations director and was commonly in the media during the British controversies over Scientology in the 1960s and 1970s.
in 1916, his father eventually settled in the Hampshire
city of Portsmouth
on the south coast of England
and established a chain of grocery stores. Born in 1933, Gaiman was educated at The Portsmouth Grammar School
, though he did not excel academically. He subsequently joined the British Army
where he rose to the rank of sergeant
. He returned to Portsmouth on leaving the army to work for his father in the grocery stores, though he detested this job.
He married Sheila on March 1, 1959. He eventually decided to go into business for himself, much to his father's displeasure, and the family moved away from their home in Portchester
in 1962.
When the Gaiman's discovered Scientology they moved to East Grinstead,West Sussex in 1965. David Gaiman joined the staff of the Church of Scientology
at nearby Saint Hill Manor
, eventually becoming the Church's chief UK media spokesman.
In the 1970s he became Deputy Guardian for Public Relations World Wide and Minister of Public Affairs for the Churches of Scientology Worldwide, as well as serving as public spokesman.
According to documents in the US vs Kember and Budlong case, Gaiman issued an order in 1975 for an operation to put false information in U.S. security agency computers using planted agents. It was known as 'Operation Cat'. Kember also credited Gaiman with the strategy to claim that CoS plants inside the American Medical Association were reporters for Freedom Magazine
.
He rose to become the head of GO Public Relations and was a member of the powerful Watchdog Committee. In 1981 he was promoted to the position of Guardian (i.e. head of the Guardian's Office), replacing Jane Kember following her criminal conviction for conspiracy against the US Government (she had been part of Scientology's Operation Snow White
).
Gaiman had three children, a son and two daughters: Neil Gaiman
, the well-known fantasy author, Claire Edwards, head of Scientology Missions International
, and Lizzy Calcioli.
Gaiman took part in the inaugural London Marathon, in 1981, and came joint last.
Gaiman, aged 75, David died peacefully in his sleep on 9th March 2009 at his home in Forest Row. A memorial service, attended by hundreds, was held for him at Saint Hill Manor
, East Grinstead
, and, on March 12, 2009, his Jewish funeral service was held in Brighton.
Mr Gaiman was prodigy and such a kind gentleman; Sheila his wife is a kind soul too. I say this because I known them both; since the 1940's
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
. He and his wife Sheila joined Scientology in the early 1960s and Gaiman served as public relations director and was commonly in the media during the British controversies over Scientology in the 1960s and 1970s.
Family and public career
Gaiman's family is of Polish Jewish origins; after emigrating from the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1916, his father eventually settled in the Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
city of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
on the south coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and established a chain of grocery stores. Born in 1933, Gaiman was educated at The Portsmouth Grammar School
The Portsmouth Grammar School
The Portsmouth Grammar School was founded in 1732, and is located in the historic part of the city. It is one of the top Public schools in the UK consistently ranking highly in national reviews of teaching quality and examination results.-History:...
, though he did not excel academically. He subsequently joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
where he rose to the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He returned to Portsmouth on leaving the army to work for his father in the grocery stores, though he detested this job.
He married Sheila on March 1, 1959. He eventually decided to go into business for himself, much to his father's displeasure, and the family moved away from their home in Portchester
Portchester
Portchester is a locality and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth, England. It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the A27 main thoroughfare...
in 1962.
When the Gaiman's discovered Scientology they moved to East Grinstead,West Sussex in 1965. David Gaiman joined the staff of the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
at nearby Saint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor is a country house at Saint Hill Green, Mid Sussex, near East Grinstead, West Sussex, England that serves as the location of the head office for the Church of Scientology in the United Kingdom.-Early history:...
, eventually becoming the Church's chief UK media spokesman.
Guardian's Office
He joined the Guardian's Office (GO), the Church's public relations bureau / intelligence agency. In 1969, Gaiman was involved in an attempt by the Church to take over the British mental health charity, the National Association for Mental Health (now Mind). Some 300 Scientologists' joined the group and nominated Gaiman, among others, for high office. Gaiman was nominated for the Chairmanship. Eventually, the Scientologists' were asked to resign but contested that request in court. Scientologists' also held demonstrations for, according to Gaiman, "humane treatment and a bill of rights for mental patients and the protection of their bodies and their well-being. We want an independent inquiry into conditions in mental hospitals. We want no more whitewashing from certain mental health organisations like the one across the road. Our stand is not on being asked to resign but for humane psychiatry."In the 1970s he became Deputy Guardian for Public Relations World Wide and Minister of Public Affairs for the Churches of Scientology Worldwide, as well as serving as public spokesman.
According to documents in the US vs Kember and Budlong case, Gaiman issued an order in 1975 for an operation to put false information in U.S. security agency computers using planted agents. It was known as 'Operation Cat'. Kember also credited Gaiman with the strategy to claim that CoS plants inside the American Medical Association were reporters for Freedom Magazine
Freedom Magazine
Freedom Magazine is a magazine published by the Church of Scientology since 1968. The magazine describes its focus as "Investigative Reporting in the Public Interest." A frequent topic is psychiatry .-Content:...
.
He rose to become the head of GO Public Relations and was a member of the powerful Watchdog Committee. In 1981 he was promoted to the position of Guardian (i.e. head of the Guardian's Office), replacing Jane Kember following her criminal conviction for conspiracy against the US Government (she had been part of Scientology's Operation Snow White
Operation Snow White
Operation Snow White was the Church of Scientology's name for a conspiracy during the 1970s to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard...
).
Vitamin Shop and later life
In 1965, David and Sheila Gaiman co-founded a vitamin shop, G&G Vitamins. In 1986 the company had become a major supplier of vitamins, with 9 employees and an annual turnover of over £263,000.00 The Gaiman's were prominent figures in the local community and well known for their sponsorship of the local arts scene. David was also a trustee of Greenfield's School since its formation in the 1980s.Gaiman had three children, a son and two daughters: Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, the well-known fantasy author, Claire Edwards, head of Scientology Missions International
Scientology Missions International
Scientology Missions International is a Californian 501 non-profit corporation, which is located in Los Angeles, California. SMI is part of the Church of Scientology network....
, and Lizzy Calcioli.
Gaiman took part in the inaugural London Marathon, in 1981, and came joint last.
Gaiman, aged 75, David died peacefully in his sleep on 9th March 2009 at his home in Forest Row. A memorial service, attended by hundreds, was held for him at Saint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor is a country house at Saint Hill Green, Mid Sussex, near East Grinstead, West Sussex, England that serves as the location of the head office for the Church of Scientology in the United Kingdom.-Early history:...
, East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
, and, on March 12, 2009, his Jewish funeral service was held in Brighton.
Mr Gaiman was prodigy and such a kind gentleman; Sheila his wife is a kind soul too. I say this because I known them both; since the 1940's