Arnold Hills

Who was Arnold Hills?

Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.

Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club. He also founded The Vegetarian, an independent magazine, as well as the Vegetarian Federal Union, of which he was also President. He also had close ties with the Temperance League. He founded the Oriolet Fruitarian Hospital at Loughton, under the medical direction of Josiah Oldfield.

Arnold Hills was also a keen sportsman who was the English mile and three mile champion, and in his youth had played football and cricket for his school team Harrow. After leaving Harrow he attended University College, Oxford, where he earned two football blues. He continued to play as an amateur for Old Harrovians after he left, even winning a Corinthian's Cap whilst there; for England, against Scotland on 5 April 1879 at the Kennington Oval; England won 5-4.

In addition to his vegetarian activism, Hills was Managing Director of the Thames Iron Works, a large shipbuilding business in London which had existed since 1846.