Reclusive yet charming “leisure entrepreneur” Trevor Hemmings owns over 100 racehorses, lives primarily on the Isle of Man and generously funded the SAFE centre to help victims of sexual violence in Preston, Lancashire.
This “publicity averse” self-made father of four’s Grand National winning horses have included Ballabriggs, Hedgehunter and Many Clouds and other assets in his collection have variously numbered Blackpool Tower and Preston North End Football Club. He also harbours a love for vintage Rolls-Royces and was considered a “surrogate son” by the equally shrewd late businessman and holiday camp owner Sir Fred Pontin (1906 – 2000).
Of his success, in a rare interview in 2015, this cloth capped “earthy” gent modestly remarked:
Two stories to keep beside you
Leslie Wexner (AKA “Les” Wexner)
Worth some £5 billion, Leslie Wexner has been described as “very shy” and “certainly not the showing off type of American”.
Hetty Green (AKA Henrietta Green, ‘The Witch of Wall Street,’ née Henrietta Robinson, 1834 – 1916)
“The greatest miser” and “richest woman in America” during the Gilded Age, Hetty Green lived by the rule of “buy cheap and sell dear.” Known for her appalling personal hygiene and ragged dresses, Green inherited £4.5 million or the equivalent of £555 million today ($729 million, €651 million or درهم2.6 billion today) in 1865 from […]
“In my business life I’ve had to climb the business and financial ladder by doing better next year than I did last year and that’s what life’s about. You have to work longer hours than everybody and you have to be on site seven days a week. Today I’m available seven days a week, people contact me seven days a week, let’s put it like that”.
Pictured above: Trevor Hemmings with Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs at Ballaseyr, Andreas.
Readers have their say
5 comments
A brilliant choice. He’s MADE RACING GREAT AGAIN (to misquote “Rod”)!
Seems like an alright bloke but hardly sets world alight does he???????? More hot birdies please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The personification of a great man is that he uses his worth to do good for others. Well done Trevor Hemmings – a true gentleman of this age.
Brilliant choice. His wife Eve is lovely too.
Shame he’s not such a gentleman where the rundown Pontins site is at Hemsby! Took the profits for years but held site to ransom for 9 years so he can build housing on our holiday area with no regard for local area.