Obituary – John Wright

John Wright of John Wright Panel Products and a veteran of the UK panel trade has died.

Mr Wright joined the family business of C Leary & Co in 1948, straight from school. He started as an office boy, learning the business of each department from the bottom up, but then concentrated on the plywood side.

C Leary was bought by Harrisons & Crosfield in 1963 and Mr Wright left the company in 1965, joining Gordon Watts & Co where he developed its plywood business.

In 1978 he left the company to set up his own business, which he continued to operate until he became ill at the end of last month.

Mr Wright was one of the longest serving members of what is now the National Panel Products Division (NPPD) and was its chairman from 1969-1970. In 2009 he was presented with an NPPD Lifetime Achievement Award at the division’s annual dinner. He was also treasurer of The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) from 1976, holding the post for some 20 years and was a founder member of the Association of Timber Agents and Brokers.

Mr Wright had a keen interest in horses, especially three-day eventing and particularly enjoyed following his grandchildren in their equestrian competitions.

He is survived by his three children, Jacqueline, Deborah and Martin and five grandchildren, Isabelle, Fabienne, Samuel, Zoe and Max.

Mr Wright’s funeral took place on December 5 but his family are also holding a memorial service at 2pm on January 20 at St Georges, Hanover Square in London. If you would like to attend, contact Nina Grundy at the TTF on tel: 0207 291 5376 or email: ngrundy@ttf.co.uk.