John Iles
English musician, cricketer and entrepreneur (1871–1951)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Henry Iles OBE (17 September 1871 – 29 May 1951) was an English entrepreneur, musician and cricketer.[1] He played for Gloucestershire between 1890 and 1891.[2]
Bristol, England
Birchington, Kent, England
Grave of Iles | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1871 Bristol, England |
| Died | 29 May 1951 (aged 79) Birchington, Kent, England |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Domestic team information | |
| Years | Team |
| 1890–1891 | Gloucestershire |
Source: Cricinfo, 30 March 2014 | |
In 1898, he acquired the British Bandsman magazine, and in 1900, he founded the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.[3]
In 1919 - just before Christmas, Iles purchased the Hall-By-The-Sea in Margate, Kent[4] previously run by Lord George Sanger.[5] He paid £40,000 for the park but spent £500,000 developing his vision of an American style amusement park for Kent which he renamed Dreamland. Almost immediately in 1920 he built the iconic Scenic Railway, now a grade II* listed structure that is still in use and also the oldest rollercoaster in the UK.[6]
He was master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians from 1932–3, and inaugurated the John Henry Iles medal in 1947.[7] He was awarded an OBE in 1947 for services to the brass band movement.[8]
