Kuldip Singh Dhillon
Encyclopedia
Kuldip Singh Dhillon, often known by the anglicized first name "Kolin", is a wealthy Punjabi
-born British property developer and polo player and official. A board member and player at Cirencester Park Polo Club, at which Charles, Prince of Wales
and his sons are members, Dhillon gained national attention in 2009 when it became known that his friend, the Prince of Wales, called him by the nickname "Sooty", which caused the Prince to be labeled as "out of touch" for using the nickname.
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In 1975, Dhillon joined Cirencester Park Polo Club, and, by his own statement, acquired the nickname while playing against members of the Royal Family.
Dhillon has an English wife, Jacqueline, and one son, Satnam , who in addition to helping his father run his property empire is himself so devoted to polo that he stripped for a calendar photo. Satnam Dhillon is also a former player for the English national polo team. The firm's main offices are in Cheltenham.
Dhillon is a former chairman of the Schools and Universities Polo Association and a director and player at Cirencester Park.
A spokesman for a group called "Give Racism the Red Card
" stated, "Members of the Royal Family, with all the money that's been spent on their education, should be aware that calling people 'Sooty' is unacceptable. It comes at the same time as Prince Harry
is again being hauled over the coals for using racist language."
Labour MP Keith Vaz
, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, reacted, "I do worry about the choice of these nicknames which they regard as terms of endearment and affection but which members of the public will regard as being offensive and distasteful."
Dhillon defended the Prince of Wales:
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
-born British property developer and polo player and official. A board member and player at Cirencester Park Polo Club, at which Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and his sons are members, Dhillon gained national attention in 2009 when it became known that his friend, the Prince of Wales, called him by the nickname "Sooty", which caused the Prince to be labeled as "out of touch" for using the nickname.
Career
Dhillon immigrated from the Punjab to Britain in 1955 when he was four years old. He has lived in Gloucestershire for over thirty years. In the early 1970s, he met the then-Camilla Parker Bowles, and the two became friends. Mrs. Parker Bowles (as she then was) and her husband Andrew (also intently interested in the world of polo) would often dine at Dhillon's Gloucestershire home, or host the wealthy property developer at the couple's home in WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
In 1975, Dhillon joined Cirencester Park Polo Club, and, by his own statement, acquired the nickname while playing against members of the Royal Family.
Dhillon has an English wife, Jacqueline, and one son, Satnam , who in addition to helping his father run his property empire is himself so devoted to polo that he stripped for a calendar photo. Satnam Dhillon is also a former player for the English national polo team. The firm's main offices are in Cheltenham.
Dhillon is a former chairman of the Schools and Universities Polo Association and a director and player at Cirencester Park.
"Sooty" controversy
The story was first reported in The Telegraphs "Mandrake" column on 12 January 2009.A spokesman for a group called "Give Racism the Red Card
Racism in association football
Racism in association football is the abuse of players, officials and fans because of their skin colour, nationality, religion or ethnicity. Some may be targeted because of their association with an opposing team...
" stated, "Members of the Royal Family, with all the money that's been spent on their education, should be aware that calling people 'Sooty' is unacceptable. It comes at the same time as Prince Harry
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
is again being hauled over the coals for using racist language."
Labour MP Keith Vaz
Keith Vaz
Nigel Keith Anthony Standish Vaz, known as Keith Vaz, was born 26 November 1956 in Aden, Yemen.Keith Vaz is a British Labour Party politician and a Member of Parliament for Leicester East, He is the longest serving Asian MP and has been the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since July...
, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, reacted, "I do worry about the choice of these nicknames which they regard as terms of endearment and affection but which members of the public will regard as being offensive and distasteful."
Dhillon defended the Prince of Wales:
I have to say that you know you have arrived when you acquire a nickname. I enjoy being called Sooty by my friends who I am sure universally use the name as a term of affection with no offence meant or felt. The Prince of Wales is a man of zero prejudice and both his sons have always been most respectful.