Major Henry Peter Bell's day job was Rope Manufacturer but, away from work, he enjoyed horse racing and owned a few which were trained for him by Wilfred Lyde from his stables at Spigot Lodge, Middleham.
Henry Bell was also a competent amateur jockey, and, riding as Mr H Bell, won the County Handicap Plate at Ayr on Friday September 16, 1938. He scraped home by a short head on his own horse, Hill Song.
He lived at Newton House, Newton by the Sea, Alnwick.