Commissioners
John Raymond Kniveton

He was born at Bibaloe Beg, on the Whitebridge Hill, Onchan in 1933.  His father died two years later and the family moved to Victoria Avenue.  He was educated at Onchan School, Murray’s Road School and Douglas High School for Boys. 

He undertook his two years National Service in the RAF (1951-53) and worked from 1950 to 1966 with the Westminster Bank.  He became an Associate of the Institute of Banking and rose to the position of Acting/Relief Manager at the sub-branches of Castletown, Port St Mary and Peel. 

On leaving the bank he joined his cousin at Corkill’s Garage where he became a director and subsequently in 1971 a director of its subsidiary Tours (Isle of Man) Ltd.  Many years later he bought ‘Tours’ and ran it as a family business, changing the emphasis from trips around the Island to off-Island travel including Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Norway and the UK. 

In 1978 he was appointed Chairman of The Isle of Man Coach Owners Association.  In 1988 he stood down as managing director of ‘Tours’ in favour of his eldest son, whilst he remained on the board along with his youngest son.  Four years later they sold the company and purchased Kelly’s Corner Shop in Summerhill Road, a business which they had owned and run some years earlier. 

He became Chairman of the family company running the new venture which they sold again in 1994.  He was appointed by the Manx Government as a director of Laxey Glen Mills Ltd in 1990, but following his appointment to the Industry Department in 1994 had to stand down. 

He was the Chairman of the Onchan Pensioners Club (1988-98) having taken over from the late Mr Bert Wasley.  He was also a member of the Committee of the Onchan Traders Association and The Friends of Onchan’s Heritage.  He joined the District Commissioners in May 1988, became Chairman in May 1993 and was Chairman at the commencement of the Commissioners’ Centenary Year in 1994. 

On 17^th March 1994 he was elected to the House of Keys following the elevation of Mr George Waft to the Legislative Council.  In accordance with the Act his election to the Keys resulted in his immediate termination as a Commissioner.  At Easter 1996 he became a Church Warden at St Peter’s Church and served until Easter 1999.

In February 1998 he was elevated to the Legislative Council and served until standing down in February 2005.  He was a member of the Onchan Endowments Committee from 1996 and is currently Secretary/Treasurer. 

In November 2009 he stood for the commissioners to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Steve Babb.  When the other candidate withdrew their nomination he was elected unopposed.