PETER Harrison, 67, is the son of a Manchester bus driver and was born in Cheadle, Cheshire.

After leaving school at 16, he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1959.

His early business career included appointments with the Ford Motor Company, Firth Cleveland and Crest Nicholson Group.

He acquired the computer networking company, Chernikeeff, in 1978 and went on to spend 22 years developing the company into the UK's "largest privately held computer networking and internet integration company".

He started to acquire real spending power when he sold Chernikeeff for '300m in 2000.

A keen supporter of sailing, the father of two spent '25m on Britain's challenge for the 2002 America's Cup.

He has scrapped similar plans for the 2007 campaign.

He also gifted '30m to the Peter Harrison Foundation which helps disabled and disadvantaged children through sport and education.

It makes grants to charities totalling '1m each year. Mr Harrison's estimated wealth remains at '206m.

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