Arnold Hills

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Arnold Hills (March 12, 1857 - March 7, 1927) was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.

Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society (1888) and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club. He also founded The Vegetarian, an independent magazine, as well as the Vegetarian Federal Union (1889), of which he was also President. He also had close ties with the Temperence League.

Arnold Hills was also a keen sportsman who was the English mile and three mile champion, and in his youth had played football and cricket (he was Captain of the 1st XI) for his school team Harrow. After leaving Harrow he attended University College, Oxford University, where he earned two football blues. He continued to play as an amateur for Old Harrovians after he left, even winning a Corinthian's Cap whilst there; for England, against Scotland on April 5, 1879 at the Kennington Oval; England won 5-4.

In addition to his vegetarian activism, Hills was Managing Director of the Thames Iron Works, a large shipbuilding business in London which had existed since 1846. He chose to live for five years among his workers in a small house in the East India Dock Road in Canning Town and organised recreational centres for them.

However, he caused some bitterness when there was a strike over poor pay and working conditions by employing 'black' labour. Considering his philanthropy, it must have been a situation that troubled him greatly.

In the summer of 1895 Hills, along with Dave Taylor, helped found Thames Ironworks F.C., who would later become West Ham United. He believed that his own local community should have its own football team and financially supported the football club until April 1900, when after increasing disagreements with West Ham's board members over the pursuit of 'professionalism', he broke ties with the club.


[edit] References

[edit] External links

  • Arnold Hills — information from the International Vegetarian Union
  • Arnold Hills — biography on the Oxford University Association Football Club web site
  • Port of London History — information about the Thames Ironworks company
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