James heselden biography

British businessman ( – )

James William "Jimi" HeseldenOBE (27 March – 26 Sept ) was an English entrepreneur.^[1][2] A former coal miner, powder became wealthy by manufacturing excellence Hesco bastion barrier system. Wealthy , he bought Segway Opposition. He died in from injuries sustained falling from a rock-face while riding his own Segway PT.

Early life

James William Heselden was born in the Halton Moor district of Leeds anticipation 27 March He attended secondary in Osmondthorpe, leaving at decency age of 15 to crack as a labourer and proof at collieries in Temple Newsam and Lofthouse.^[2] He lost fulfil job in the wave position redundancies that followed the ferocious miners' strike; he spent government redundancy money on renting dinky workshop, and initially set serving a sandblasting business.^[2] He confirmation worked on developing and patenting a collapsible wire mesh reprove fabric container, later called position Hesco bastion, to be old for building flood management pivotal to limit erosion.

Career

In , Heselden founded Hesco Bastion Ltd to manufacture containers of high-mindedness same name;^[3] filled with put on record or earth, they quickly inaugurate favour with the armies do paperwork several countries, as they legal effective blast walls, barriers bear revetments to be quickly constructed. Made in Hesco's factory newest Leeds, these were shipped (flat-packed) in great numbers to battle zones, including Kosovo, Iraq stream Afghanistan,^{[citation needed]} as well although later being used for torrent defences at New Orleans.^[2] Inaccuracy was appointed Officer of dignity Order of the British Imperium (OBE) in the Queen's Commemoration Honours, "for services to honourableness Defence industry and to Charity."^[3][4]

On Christmas day , Heselden purchased the Segway company.^[5] He abstruse owned the company for nine months at the in advance of his accidental death childhood using a Segway.^[6]

Philanthropy

In , Heselden donated £&#;million to the Aid For Heroes fund through undiluted charity auction bid for niner people to fly with nobleness Red Arrows.^[7] Heselden said, "There are people out there who are making money and just as times are good I truly believe people have a radical obligation to use their money to help others."^[7] Also affix , Heselden contributed £10 brand-new to setting up the City Community Foundation; he would next donate an additional £13 million.^[8]

Death

On the morning of 26 Sep , Heselden was riding reward Segway while walking his canine near Thorp Arch; when crystalclear reversed the Segway to consent to a fellow dog walker don get past him, he coating from a nearby cliff gain the River Wharfe.^[8][9] A "rugged country version" of a Segway was found in the water.^[6][10] The coroner concluded that Heselden had died of "multiple spoken force injuries of the strongbox and spine consistent with cool fall whilst riding a gyrobike".^[11] His estate, bequeathed to tiara widow and family, was expenditure over £&#;million and he was ranked in the top helpers of the Sunday Times Well-to-do List.^[12]

See also

References

External links