Framlinghamian 2023 - Flipbook - Page 326
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John’s business acumen, combined with
of Ipswich Town Football Club from 1991
integrity and approachability, meant
to 1995 and remained on the board until
that he was much in demand, and this
2006. His contribution to the club was
led to a wide range of leadership and
marked by a minute’s applause from a
representative appointments. A farmer
large crowd before kick-o昀昀 in the match
with vision, he was an active member
against Shrewsbury on March 18. He was
of the Su昀昀olk Agricultural Society and
the 昀椀rst non-Cobbold Chairman but the
was President of the Su昀昀olk Show in the
fact that he farmed close to the Cobbold
year when the Duke of Gloucester was
seat at Glemham Hall must have meant
the guest of honour. He served for three
that his talents and potential had been
years in the 1980s as Show Director, a
well known locally. Evidence of this
rapid rise for one who had started o昀昀 as
business talent was the setting up by the
assistant car park attendant. In 1983, the
family of Easton Farm Park, opening up
second of John’s three years as Director,
and displaying the practices of farming
the renowned show jumper, Caroline
to thousands of visiting families. He was
Bradley having completed her round,
Chairman of both the Framlingham and
got o昀昀 her horse, collapsed and died.
Woodbridge Horse Shows and served
John had to handle the press pack which
as Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Vice
included Terry Hunt who was covering the
Lord-Lieutenant of Su昀昀olk, High Sheri昀昀
event for the EADT. This he did, in Terry’s
of Su昀昀olk and Chairman of The Farmers’
words, “with great professionalism and
Club in London. He also took on more
compassion”. It was the 昀椀rst time Terry had
local roles as Chairman of the Easton
met John, and this was the beginning of a
Parish Council, Governor of Woodbridge
friendship with John and the family which
School, and Chairman of Woodbridge
was to last for over 40 years. Two Old
Bench of Magistrates. He was for several
Framlinghamians serving their county in
years, almost inevitably, on the Board of
di昀昀erent ways.
Governors of his old school, Framlingham
John was a farmer to the core and a
shrewd one. He adopted modern farming
practices, and, from small beginnings,
built up what can be described as a very
successful farming empire. He was at
Framlingham in the days when the largest
College society was the Young Farmers’
Club, and when a special day’s holiday
was granted to allow students to attend
the Su昀昀olk Show. There was no summer
half-term holiday in those days!
Away from farming, John was Chairman
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