Born on 12 Nov 1937 at Shaddongate, Carlisle.

Mother - Jean (nee Baxter) of Maryport.

Father  - John of Newcastle.

Sister   - Margaret (aka Margery) b. 29 Nov 1934.

Wife     - Sandra (nee Thorpe) b. 24 Oct 1943.

John's family moved to Maryport at the start of 2nd World War.

Started at Ellenborough School (now known as The Dales), from 1942 to 1949.

Went to Cockermouth Grammar School from 1949 to 1953.

He played rugby for his school and also played alongside Gus Risman (Welsh & GB international player) before his retirement in 1954.

Gus was player-coach in Workington Town's Challenge Cup glory in 1952.



1953-54    Worked at the Bata Shoe Factory in Grasslot, Maryport.

1954-64    Served his time in The Royal Navy.

                 Stationed at Portsmouth, Londonderry, Newcastle & Chatham.

                 Served in Malta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iceland & Ireland.

                 John played rugby for the Navy until a broken clavical put an

                 end to his tackling career.

                 He also boxed at a fairly high level in the Navy too.

                 Saw action in the Suez Canal.

                 Was on Christmas Island during the H-Bomb tests in the Pacific.

                 Met Sandra during his service thorugh a Naval friend

                 (Sandra's brother).

1st Jul 1961     -     Married Sandra

7th Jan 1962    -    Karen Chapman Born

29 Oct 1963     -    Kevin Chapman Born

28 Jun 1965     -    Alison Chapman Born

After leaving the Navy in 1964, he settled in Margate and worked at C.E.M. at Westwood, Kent manufacturing radio transformers.

1966        Decided to relocate back to Maryport.

1966-67   Returned to Bata Shoe Factory (closed in 1980).

1967        John was one of the few who backed Foinavon to win the

                Grand National at 100-1. This probably tipifies his admiration

                towards the underdog in any sport. Well it paid off this time

                as the rest of the field fell leaving the underdog to have his day.

                How much John won is still unknown, maybe he didnt tell

                Sandra so he could spend it himself ha ha.

1967-68   Left Bata to work at Thames Board Paper Mill.

                (now Iggesund).

1968-68   Left Thames Board to work at Ectona at Siddick.

1968-76   Was paid off at Ectona so moved to B.I.P factory at Maryport.

                He worked there until it finally closed in 1976.

11 Mar 1970     -     David Chapman Born

1976-88   Worked at Paul Greens Spectacle Manufacturers.

15th Feb 1977    -    Jeanette Chapman Born.

1988        Paul Greens closed.

                Went to work in Poland for 6 weeks installing the machines

                from Paul Greens factory into a new factory over there.