Ken Bates - Biography

Biography

Bates was born in Ealing in 1931. His mother died shortly afterwards and his father absconded, so he was raised by his grandparents in a council flat. He grew up supporting Queens Park Rangers but was unsuccessful in pursuing a playing career in football. He made his personal fortune in the haulage industry and later moved into quarrying, ready-mix concrete and dairy farming.

He was involved with various other enterprises during the 1960s and 1970s, including projects on the British Virgin Islands and in Rhodesia. The Leeds United fanzine Square Ball has published a photograph of Ken Bates with Rhodesian PM Ian Smith during a 1967 tour by Oldham Athletic, when Rhodesia was subject to UN sanctions. Square Ball has reported, having worked with a documentary made in the British Virgin Islands, that Bates attempted to purchase the island of Tortola on a 199-year lease, but was thwarted after protests by islanders caused the local government to change its decision and investigations began by the British government. The original agreement to lease the island was known as the Bates-Hill Agreement. Today, a park on Tortola is named after Noel Lloyd, a resident of the island who led the opposition to the agreement.

In 1976, he set up the Irish Trust Bank. but it was eventually wound up leaving thousands of investors out-of-pocket.

Twice married (present wife, Suzannah), he has five children. He spent five years as chairman of Oldham Athletic during the 1960s and also had a spell at Wigan Athletic. He is estimated to be worth in the region of £150 million. He currently resides in Monaco as a tax exile. He is however, under UK law, allowed to visit Britain for a maximum of 90 days in a calendar year.