Arnold Hills

Business career

Hills became a director of the Thames Iron Works in 1880, a shipbuilding business in London that had existed since 1846. He lived for five years (1860-1885) among his workers in a small house in East India Dock Road in Canning Town and organised recreational centres for them. He also caused resentment during a strike over pay and working conditions by employing strikebreakers.

In the summer of 1895, Hills and Dave Taylor helped found Thames Ironworks F.C., which later became West Ham United. The following year, 1896, he became the Managing Director of the yard, and at some point Chairman.

Hills wanted the local community to have its own football team and financially supported the club until April 1900. After disagreements with West Ham's board over professionalism, he ended his formal ties with the club and the Thames Ironworks.

Hills proposed that West Ham be formed as a limited company and became its major shareholder. He encouraged business associates, family members, and his workers to invest, promising to buy one share for every share sold to the public. He rented the Memorial Grounds to the club on favourable terms. Hills told the new directors that he would not interfere in the running of the club and, despite being its largest single shareholder, did not attend annual general meetings, ask to address meetings, or present demands or suggestions.

Later life and death

The failing fortunes of the ironworks and Hills's involvement in developing a new car engine pushed the club into the background, and he became disabled due to arthritis. He died at Hammerfield, Penshurst, Kent, in 1927, aged 69, and was buried at St Luke's Church at Chiddingstone Causeway in Penshurst. His shareholding in West Ham, 1,100 of 4,000 shares, passed to his family; 1,142 shares remained unsold until 1961.