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David Gaiman

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Wikipedia

David Bernard Gaiman is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology who lives in the UK. He and his wife Sheila joined Scientology in the early 1960s and Gaiman served as public relations director and commonly in the media during the British controversies over Scientology in the 1960s and 1970s. During that period, he held the titles 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.

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 enquiry 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.

Family

Gaiman's family is of Polish Jewish origins; after emigrating from the Netherlands 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 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 Gaimans 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 same year, David and Sheila Gaiman co-founded a vitamin shop, G&G Foods. By 2005 the company had become a major local employer, with 80 employees and an annual turnover of over £4 million. The Gaimans are prominent figures in the local community and are well known for their sponsorship of the local arts scene.

Gaiman has three children, a son and two daughters. His son is Neil Gaiman, the well-known fantasy author; one of his daughters, Claire Edwards, is head of Scientology Missions International.