Meat Management is saddened to report the passing of past president of the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB), John Chapman OBE.
John Chapman, born in 1932, passed peacefully on Wednesday 7th January, aged 93.
He was president of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association from 1981 to 1982, with SCB describing Chapman as “working hard to represent independent retail butchers across the country”.
From 1981 through to 1987, Chapman served on the Motherwell Football Club executive board, before being appointed chair in 1987.
The club said his leadership allowed Motherwell to “build ambition in a sensible and stable manner”, which it said was highlighted when the club lifted the Scottish Cup in 1991. He stepped down in October 1997, with his years of service marked when he was named the club’s Honorary Life President.
In the 1992 New Year Honours list, Chapman was awarded an OBE for his services to the Scottish meat trade.
“John’s contribution to the Association and to the wider Scottish food industry will be remembered with great respect and gratitude.”
Scottish Craft Butchers
Soon after, Chapman was appointed board director and chairman of livestock auctioneers Lawrie and Symington (L&S) from 1993-2002, and was described as a “prominent entrepreneur” within the community, bringing an “assured leadership at an uncertain financial time”.
Lawrie and Symington stated that his influence was “especially needed” when L&S came under threat of takeover, with his guidance and backing bringing the business through that time with “new constituted memorandum and articles of association” that continue to serve the company today.
Family business Chapman’s Butchers, established in 1937, said he was “for so many years, the boss, the inspiration and the role model for all of us here”.
SCB offered its condolences, stating: “We mourn the loss of John Chapman OBE, past president of the Scottish Craft Butchers (1981/82), whose leadership, commitment, and lifelong service to the craft left a lasting legacy. John’s contribution to the Association and to the wider Scottish food industry will be remembered with great respect and gratitude.”
