| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sir Kenneth Huson Preston |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 19 May 1901 Sevenoaks, England |
| Died | 6 June 1995 (aged 94) Cirencester, England |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Sailing |
Kenneth Huson Preston[1] (19 May 1901 – 6 June 1995) was a British sailor. He competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics and the 1952 Summer Olympics.[2]
Early life and education
Preston was the eldest of three sons of the industrialist and politician Sir Walter Preston. His younger brother, Francis,[3] was also an Olympic sailor. He was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Oxford, which he left without a degree, but where he played rugby, narrowly missing a blue due to an ankle injury.[2]
Career
Preston went into the family engineering business, and was a highly successful businessman. He was chairman of one of the family's acquisitions, Platt Brothers, which provided machinery for most of the Lancashire cotton industry. He was knighted in 1959.[2]
Sporting achievements
Preston competed in the 1936 and 1952 Olympic Games, and was regarded as a major figure in the sailing of "big boats" in the 1950s. All three Preston brothers were elected members of the Royal Yacht Squadron; Preston was a member for 72 years, and was vice-commodore from 1965 to 1971. He was also vice-commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club from 1953 to 1966.[2]