It is with great sadness that Meat Management announces the passing of Graham Sharp, a Past Master, Clerk and Father to the Court of The Worshipful Company of Butchers (WCB), aged 85, following a short illness.

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Graham Sharp speaking at a WCB Court Lunch. | Picture: Phil McCarthy.

He served as Master in 1989-1990, going on to become its Clerk to the Livery from 1997 until retiring in 2003.

Known to many in the meat industry, his career began when he joined his father’s business, Armour & Company at the age of 17. His grandfather was also chief meat inspector at Smithfield Market.

Keen to gain experience he moved from Armour to join Spanjers on its meat stalls at Smithfield Market where he eventually became a director. The company was then bought by Dalgety and he went on to work in Northern Ireland, working on sales of carcase beef and lamb, wholesale primal cuts and by-products.

Ultimately the business was sold to FMC, Graham came back to the UK and helped set up a meat operation. He was subsequently persuaded to return to Armour & Company and became a director in 1975.

The Worshipful Company of Butchers’ deputy clerk, Carla Ashcroft, said: “Graham was a true gentleman, with a quick, dry wit and a twinkle in his eye. He loved a glass of red wine and played quite a lot of golf! He was a great source of wisdom and knowledge for the Livery. News of his passing will be a sad day for those who were lucky enough to have known him, as either a friend, a Liveryman, as our past Clerk and ultimately as Father of the Court.”

Graham Sharp was also a previous Trustee of the BDCI and a member of the Institute of Meat.

This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.