Kenneth Preston (sailor)

Kenneth Preston
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]