Sir Miles Rawstron Walker (born 13 November 1940) is a Manx businessman and politician, who was the first ever

Chief Minister of the Isle of Man The Chief Minister (Manx: ''Ard-shirveishagh'') is the executive head of the Isle of Man Government. The office derives from that of Chairman of the Executive Council. Before 1980 the Executive Council was chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, b ...

Early life and career

Born on 13 November 1940 to George Denis Walker and Alice (née Whittaker), he was educated at Castle Rushen High School and the Shropshire Agricultural College. He later went on to become a

company director A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

in the farming and retail dairy trade. He was an

Arbory Arbory ( gv, Cairbre) is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island (part of the traditional ''South Side'' division) in the sheading of Rushen. Settlements in the parish include Ballabeg, ...

commissioner (a local government role) from 1970 until 1976, latterly as the chairman. In 1976 he was elected as an MHK for

Rushen Rushen ( ; gv, Rosien), formally Kirk Christ Rushen, is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island (part of the traditional ''South Side'' division) in the sheading of the same name. A ...

. He remained an MHK until he retired at the 2001 General Election. In 1986 he was elected as the island's first ever Chief Minister, and continued in the post until the 1996 election. He was honoured as

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(CBE) in 1991. He was awarded an honorary doctorate (

LL.D. Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...

) in 1994 by

Liverpool University , mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning , established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...

, and was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in 1997.

Personal life

Sir Miles has been married to Mary since 1966; they have one son and one daughter together and live in Colby, Isle of Man.

Government positions

*Chairman of Tromode House Committee, 1977–80 *Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, 1979–81 *Chairman of the Local Government Board, 1981–86 *Chairman of the Income Tax Commission, 1985–86 *Member of the Executive Council, 1981–90 *

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...

, 1986–96

Walker's Councils of Ministers

Business Positions

*Chairman of Hospice Isle of Man, 2010–present *Chairman of the Sefton Group plc., 2010–present

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Miles 1940 births Living people Chief Ministers of the Isle of Man Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor Manx politicians Manx businesspeople Politicians awarded knighthoods