Unlike his fellow director, John has none of the advantages of youth. This allows him to suggest that he has considerable experience to hand, particularly within the philanthropic sector.
| He was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to youth and sport, an award quite unconnected to his professional life. |
He was co-founder in 1983 of The Sportsman's Charity which he has continued to develop successfully up to date, as an “events” charity. The Sportsman's Charity regularly ran a number of its own popular events. The Charity also raised money through its unique “partnership” arrangement, on behalf of charities, companies and individuals. He devised and organised the first Hearts and Heroes Challenge, run in May 2009 to benefit PoppyScotland and Hearts and Balls, two charities dedicated respectively to the support of veterans from military conflict and disabled or disadvantaged rugby players.
From 1996, when it was founded, up to 2002, he was a Trustee of the Scottish Community Foundation and was its Development Director from 2000-2004. His professional career included a law degree, a tenuous yet dangerous brush with accountancy and from 1970 to 2000 a life as a broker. The years 1993 to 2000 were spent as MD of Stocktrade, Scotland’s first execution only broker, which he had set up with more able, stalwart and long suffering colleagues.
His involvement in rugby football is but a distant memory where he gained 23 caps for Scotland, at a time when it was rumoured that there was a serious absence of quality centre-threequarters. He also played for Highland RFC, Edinburgh University and Gala, He retains the distinction, since the merger of his prep school with St Leonard’s School for girls, as being the latter’s only capped player.
He was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to youth and sport, an award quite unconnected to his professional life.
He has now resigned as CE of The Sportsman's Charity in order to do some unfulfilled things before a zimmer and iron lung become as indispensible as his mobile. This endeavour is the most important initiative he has ever considered undertaking.
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