A prominent Cumbrian businessman, who became a racehorse breeder and owner in his retirement, has died aged 85.
John Wills, OBE, DL, was born in Southport.
After being awarded a scholarship to Merchant Taylors’ School, he trained as a chartered accountant before joining chemical company Albright and Wilson which had a major factory, Marchon, in Whitehaven.
After marrying Maureen Clark of Bassenthwaite, the couple built their family home, and three others, on the outskirts of the village where he lived until his death.
For many years he was a keen sailor – serving as Commodore of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club – a salmon fisherman and was a syndicate member of various shoots.
He subsequently became managing director at Marchon, before being appointed to the company’s board of directors with responsibility for its overseas operations. He took early retirement from the firm in 1991 when it was bought by an American company.
Having travelled the world constantly for his job, in retirement he developed a new interest in horse racing, established his own stud farm and began breeding horses for flat and national hunt racing, as well as keeping a number of horses which raced in his blue and green colours.
A regular at racing venues across the north for 30 years, his horses enjoyed some success, most notably he bred Rising Cross, which was second in the Oaks and won a number of prestigious races.
Awarded the OBE for services to industry and appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria in 1985, he also served as a director of British Nuclear Fuels, Border Television, Whitehaven Rugby League Club and was chairman of the Cumbrian NHS Trust and Cumbria Age Concern.
He was also a long-standing supporter of a number of Cumbrian and national charities.
Widowed in 1999, in his later years he became an avid wildlife supporter, cruise aficionado and his perpetually gruff exterior disguised a degree of caring sensitivity few would suspect.
He is survived by his children Tina, John and James.
