Family of John Kerr share fond memories of Suffolk farmer

“A highly respected yet humble gentleman who loved people and liked getting things done.”

Those are just some of the fond memories of the family of John Kerr, the former Ipswich Town chairman and prominent farmer and businessman who died this week aged 83.

Mr Kerr was a high-profile figure in Suffolk and beyond for many decades, with leading roles in agriculture, football, the Suffolk Show, the Lieutenancy, the judiciary and within the local community.

But, despite his successful and busy life, his family - widow Jill and four children, Laura, Bruce, Fiona and Alastair - remember him as a down to earth and modest man who had time for everybody and never sought credit for himself.

They recall how, however busy he was and wherever his commitments had taken him, he would without fail find time to call Jill every single day of their 56-year marriage to tell her he loved her.

Jill said: “It was a privilege to have shared my life with him.” Son Alastair added: “It was a privilege for us to have him as our dad.”

John and Jill Kerr with Princes Charles, now King Charles, at an event at Highgrove. (Image: The Kerr family)

John Kerr was born in Suffolk in 1939, just a year after his parents had moved from Scotland to start a new life farming at Letheringham, near Wickham Market.

He was a pupil at Framlingham College - where he would later become a governor - and also at Writtle Agricultural College. His first business venture on his own, at the age of 21, was as a tenant farmer on 300 acres of land owned by the Glemham Estate.

The family recalled that any labour or machinery loaned from his father’s farm was meticulously invoiced. Bruce recalled: “He learned the value of money and a strong work ethic very early in life.”

Mr Kerr was an early adopter of modern farming practices, and from relatively small beginnings he built a very successful agricultural empire.

One element of this was Easton Farm Park which the family set up and has shown thousands of people - including countless children - how important agriculture and food production is.

He met Jill, who grew up at Campsea Ashe, at Young Farmers, and the couple married in 1967. As well as their four grown-up children, the couple have eight grandchildren.

Mr Kerr was a stalwart of the Suffolk Show, starting as an assistant car park steward and fulfilling various roles before serving as Show Director for three years from 1982 to 1984.

During that time, Princess Margaret was a Royal visitor, and he also had to deal with tragedy when leading show jumper Caroline Bradley collapsed and died shortly after completing her event in 1983. She was just 37.

In later years, he was also President of the Suffolk Agricultural Association, and an Honorary Life President of the organisation.

His love for Ipswich Town was inherited from his father, William, who he followed on to the club’s board.

In 1991, he became chairman, the first person outside the Cobbold family to hold that position. It was an extraordinary time, with the new Premier League about to launch. Ipswich were promoted in 1992, to become founder members of the Premier League.

The family remembers how much he relished the challenge. “He loved meeting people, and as club chairman he dealt with totally different people as they worked to set up the new league - which he found very exciting.

“With the start of the Premier League, suddenly football had to be much more business-like, and that suited his good business brain. That was the Scot in him. He was definitely the right man at the right time.”

Of course, football is a rollercoaster, and there were some tough times too - like the 1994-95 season when Ipswich were relegated, including the record 9-0 defeat at Manchester United.

How did he deal with the pressure? Daughter Laura said: “When I asked him that, he said he would play the song American Pie in the car on the way home. Singing along to that helped him to de-stress.”

In 1995, Mr Kerr stood down from the chairmanship and David Sheepshanks took over. But he continued to be associated with the club and remained a passionate supporter for the rest of his life. He was pleased with the way the club is going under its American owners.

His family remembers how he had wanted to take all of his eight grandchildren to Portman Road to watch a game, but sadly his failing health meant that it couldn’t happen.

Mr Kerr was a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, and had been Vice-Lord Lieutenant - deputy to former Lord Lieutenant Lord Tollemache. He served as High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1995. He had also been Chairman of the Farmers’ Club in London.

In these prestigious roles, he would regularly meet members of the Royal Family, and he was awarded the MBE for services to agriculture in 1986 and an honorary doctorate from Essex University in 2002.

But Jill said his work in the local community was just as important to him. He served as President of both Woodbridge and Framlingham Horse Shows, chairman of Easton Parish Council, and President of the village bowls club. He had also been chairman of the Woodbridge magistrates bench, a governor at Woodbridge School, and chairman of Deben Farm Club.

The family said: “Those local commitments were just as important to him as the more high-profile ones. We have been overwhelmed by the touching messages we’ve received, some from people we had no idea he had helped over the years.

“We have had lovely messages from people who used to work on the farms, and also some from the children of people who were employees but who have sadly passed away.”

They described Mr Kerr as “welcoming and non-judgemental. He would always find time for people, whoever they were, and however busy he was.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.