Jon Trimmer was born in 1940 and was knighted in 1999 for his services to...?

Jon Trimmer received a knighthood in 1999 for his services to ballet.

Jonty Trimmer was born on 18 September 1939 in Petone, New Zealand. He started learning ballet at age 12 at his sister's ballet school. In 1958 he joined the New Zealand Ballet Company where he worked until he left to study overseas.

While overseas between 1959 and 1970 he attended the Royal Ballet School from 1960 to 1961. He then toured with the Sadler's Wells Ballet from 1962 to 1964. He then danced with The Australian Ballet from 1965 to 1966. He then went on to dance with the Royal Danish Ballet from 1968 to 1969.

In 1970 he returned to New Zealand to help revive the New Zealand Ballet and became the principal male dancer in that company. He has been with the company, now known as the Royal New Zealand ballet since then.