John Wilson

Major John Wilson

1889-1959

Major John Philip Wilson, a 36-year-old Yorkshireman, won the 1925 Grand National on Double Chance, thereby upholding the splendid tradition of amateur riders in the event.

Popularly known as Jack Wilson, he was born at Gilling, Yorkshire on April 3, 1889. He played cricket for Cambridge and also for Yorkshire in 1911 and 1912. He later played for the Yorkshire Gentlemen until 1928. 

Known to be somewhat of a daredevil, he was one of the first to make a parachuter jump from a balloon. 

Although recognised as an accomplished horseman, his talents were largely unknown away from the northern courses. When winning the Grand National he rode with a strapped up broken collarbone. 

Having retired from riding in races in the late 1920s, he joined bookmakers Ladbrokes as their representative at northern meetings. Until then Ladbrokes betting in the north had been confined to the major meetings at Doncaster, York and Liverpool, and it was planned to extend their activities. Unfortunately, the colourful Major Wilson proved not as good a bookmaker as horseman, and after 1931 the experiment was abandoned and he left the firm.  

During the war, he served with the Royal Flying Corps and was one of the first airman to bomb Germany. He also shot down a Zeppelin raider over Hull.

After the war he ran a small stable in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

Major Jack Wilson died at Tickton, Beverley, on October 3, 1959, aged 70.