Dilley Family Genealogy & History

Graham Roy Dilley was an eminent English international cricketer, celebrated for his role as a fast bowler. He played first-class cricket for Kent and Worcestershire County Cricket Clubs and was capped in 41 Test matches and 36 ODIs for England. Dilley's most memorable cricketing moment came during the 1981 Ashes series at Headingley, where his tail-end batting with Ian Botham helped secure a historic victory against Australia. His career highlights include playing a pivotal role in the England team and achieving a notable Test score of 56 in that iconic match.

Graham Dilley was born and raised in Dartford, Kent, and attended Dartford High School. He was married and divorced twice, fathering four children, including Chris Pennell, a rugby union player for England, and Jonathan, who played cricket for Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Second XIs. His connections to cricket extended to his family, with Kent cricketer Graham Johnson being his brother-in-law.

Leslie Dilley, born in 1941 in Rhondda Valley, South Wales, is a renowned Welsh art director and production designer. Known for his exceptional work in the film industry from the 1970s to 2000s, Dilley has been a pivotal force behind iconic movies. He won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for "Star Wars" (1977) and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), and earned nominations for "Alien" (1979), "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), and "The Abyss" (1989). Transitioning to production design in the 1990s, Dilley's notable works include "The Exorcist III" (1990) and "Casper" (1995). His contributions have left a lasting impact on cinematic art direction and design.

Mark Dilley, born January 20, 1969, is a renowned Canadian race car driver in the NASCAR Pinty's Series, driving the No. 64 Leland/BDI/PartSource Ford Fusion for Micks Motorsports. Dilley's career highlights include winning the CASCAR Super Series Championship in 1994 and achieving multiple wins and top finishes in the Canadian Tire Series. Co-owner of Sauble Speedway since 2017, Dilley has significantly contributed to motorsports, serving as an owner, promoter, and race director at various speedways in Ontario. His expertise particularly shines on oval tracks, where he consistently demonstrates skill and precision.

Gary J. Dilley, born on January 15, 1945, is a renowned American former competition swimmer and Olympic medalist. He achieved international acclaim by winning a silver medal in the men's 200-meter backstroke at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, setting new Olympic records in the heats and semifinals. However, his record was surpassed by his American teammate Jed Graef in subsequent rounds. Dilley was a key member of the Michigan State Spartans swimming and diving team and later pursued a successful career in dentistry, specializing in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. He maintained an orthodontic practice in Cary, North Carolina, and contributed as a faculty member at the UNC School of Dentistry.