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.

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 is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulations ...

in the farming and retail dairy trade. He was an

Arbory Arbory () is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located on the south of the island in the sheading of Rushen. Settlements in the parish include Ballabeg, Colby and Ronague. As of the 2016 census, its population stoo ...

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

Rushen Rushen ( ; ), 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. Administrat ...

. 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 valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

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

LL.D. A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...

) in 1994 by

Liverpool University The University of Liverpool (abbreviated UOL) is a public research university in Liverpool, England. Founded in 1881 as University College Liverpool, Victoria University, it received Royal Charter by King Edward VII in 1903 attaining the de ...

, and was

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

, 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 businesspeople Independent politicians in the Isle of Man