It was with sadness that the Rochester Bridge Trust has learned of the death of John Spence OBE DL.
A former Senior Warden of the Rochester Bridge Trust, John served as a trustee for 30 years, during which time he became a highly respected member of the Court of Wardens and Assistants.
Tim Cathcart, Chief Estates Officer at the Trust, said: “All of us at the Trust were saddened to hear this news and send our condolences to John’s family.
“John was a valued member of the Court, providing important insight into a range of activities and taking a special interest in the Trust’s agricultural properties and the farming operations undertaken by its tenants. When the Trust established an agricultural scholarship, it was named the Spence Agricultural Scholarship in recognition of his lifelong interest in the agricultural sector.”
The scholarship, which launched in 2018, supports students studying agriculture at university, paying particular attention to those who do not come from an agricultural background. John’s own interest in agriculture began at a very young age and led to him winning recognition in pig husbandry as a teenager. It also recognises John’s work to expand the Trust’s agricultural holdings.
John was active across the community, having served as a borough and then county councillor; Deputy Lieutenant of Kent; and a trustee for numerous organisations including The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Rochester Cathedral and Medway Health Trust.