Tributes paid to former Chamber chief executive
John Warburton, former chief executive of the Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce, known now as the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), has died at the age of 89.
Among many achievements, he was part of the joint City and Chamber team that brought the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) to Birmingham, and created what is now the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
In a career distinguished by tirelessly promoting British business abroad, John was awarded a CBE for services to exports in the New Year 's Honours in 1983.
He was also responsible for embracing Birmingham 's Asian community into the Chamber in the wake of the Handsworth riots in 1987, when the Institute of Asian Businesses (now the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce) was created.
John died on 3 March in Cowes, Isle of Wight, where he moved in 2020 to be nearer to his family. A funeral service will be held at The Oratory, Birmingham, on Tuesday, April 5 (12.30pm), followed by a reception in his memory at Edgbaston Golf Club.
He joined Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1959 after working for London Chamber of Commerce following National Service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. John was appointed the Chamber 's chief executive in 1979 and served until 1994. He was also regional secretary of the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce from 1979 to 1994.
John 's daughter, Moira James, said: “My father was always exceedingly proud to have served the Chamber for so many years and to have contributed widely to the fortunes of businesses based in the Birmingham area. ”
His deputy, Sue Battle, who went on to become chief executive, said: “John leaves a lasting and tangible legacy for Birmingham. He positioned the Chamber as one of the leading promoters for successfully bringing the National Exhibition Centre to Birmingham and was tireless in connecting its businesses globally, especially across Europe. ”
Henrietta Brealey, Chief Executive of the GBCC, said: “John 's contribution to the Chamber was critical at a time when the promotion of Birmingham abroad was essential and he turned the Chamber into a leading force in that field as well as helping to bring the NEC to the city. ”
John attended Newcastle-under-Lyme High School, gained an MA in law at Keble College, Oxford, and was called to the Bar at Gray 's Inn in 1977. He became an accredited mediator at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
In the 1960s, the Chamber became a focal point for local businesses working hard to boost their world-wide export sales. In the 1960s and early 1970s, John took Birmingham business missions to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USSR, Congo, Romania, Yugoslavia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Philippines.
During the Chamber 's campaign with the city to bring the NEC to Birmingham, John wrote a paper for the Parliamentary Estimates Committee, which advocated the building of a new international facility in the Midlands.
This was instrumental in winning support for the bid, resulting in the creation of the NEC, now one of the world 's major business exhibition venues.
John succeeded Sir Robert Booth as chief executive of the Chamber in 1979. He also became the first Chairman of the advisory council of the West Midlands Development Agency, which was instrumental in making the West Midlands the most successful UK region in attracting new business and manufacturing investment
With Sir Reginald Eyre, John pioneered the Heartlands partnership for the regeneration of East Birmingham and, with the support of Cadbury, Lucas, Bass and other large local firms, he set up Birmingham Venture, one of the first UK enterprise agencies created to promote new small businesses and support their growth.
He held several honorary appointments while at the Chamber, including membership of the Pay Review Body for Doctors and Dentists in the N.H.S. (1982-1992), director, National Exhibition Centre Ltd. (1989-1995) and a founder Director of Business in the Community, the Prince of Wales 's national initiative for responsible businesses. He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.
John remained active after his retirement and was a member of the Council of the University of Birmingham and a life member of its Court.
He was executive chairman of the Governors of Newman College (now Newman University), and chaired the Birmingham Macmillan Cancer Relief Appeal, providing additional Macmillan cancer nurses in the city.
He was also deputy chairman to the late Gary Allen on the Birmingham Children 's Hospital Appeal. In 1994 and 1995, he was a volunteer visiting adviser in Slovakia and Mongolia, helping their Chambers to adapt to economic and political change.
In 1960, John married Patricia Gordon, who died in 2009. He is survived by his sister Beryl Warburton, his daughter Moira James, her husband Julian and grandchildren Christopher and Dominic.
Pictured: John Warburton pictured at Cowes, Isle of Wight, where he moved to be with his family.