COUNTRY LIFE
David
Biles
MBE
1935 - 2015
An Island life remembered
D
avid Biles, the well-known
farmer and horseman who died
recently after a long period of
illness, had said that one of the high
points of his life was the year he served
as High Sheriff in 1999.
Along with his beloved wife Diana,
who died in 2013, Mr Biles attended
over 300 engagements as High Sheriff
and described it as “the most privileged
job I’ve done”.
It was, however, just one of many
roles that this larger-than-life character
played in the Island community.
Returning from National Service in
1955 he set to work on his father’s three
Island farms - the knacker yard, Gotten
Leaze and Somerton Farm – and within
six years, at the age of just 26, he was
left to run the entire operation after his
father died suddenly after suffering a
heart attack in Newport Market.
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“It was a hard business to run” he
admitted “but my mother was on standby to do the books and cheques”.
He married Diana, in 1965 with plans
to build them a new bungalow - but
she encouraged him to restore the
farmhouse at Somerton Farm, which
they did in time for the arrival of their
children Sam in 1967 and Sophie in
1969.
Mr Biles was a lifelong supporter of
the Gilten Market and of the Royal Isle
Of Wight Agricultural Show, of which he
was a stalwart supporter and one-time
vice chairman. He was always a familiar
figure around the event – whether he
was commentating, carriage driving or
showing cattle.
At the 2013 Show, he was officially
presented with life membership of the
Royal IW Agricultural Society as a mark
of his tireless dedication and service.