BUSINESS NEWS
Director loses battle with cancer J
BY JOHN LAMB
onathan Webber has lost his long battle to beat liver cancer. The director of international trade at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) was just nine days from his 59th birthday when he
died on 15 February. He was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in 2014, an illness he
bravely described as “something of a nuisance and an inconvenience”. His long-time partner Kathryn Ball was with him when he died peacefully at home. Jonathan, who joined the Chamber in April 1999, was awarded the MBE
for services to international trade and development in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2011 and was made a deputy lieutenant in the West Midlands in 2014. The funeral service took place at Bushbury Crematorium,
Wolverhampton. Jonathan had requested: "Rather than flowers, small, individual investments to participants in
"Lend with Care" - a charity that provides basic micro-loans to entrepreneurs in very disadvantaged communities across Asia and Africa.” The charity's website is
www.lendwithcare.com Jonathan, who joined the Chamber in April, 1999, was awarded the MBE
for services to international trade and development in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2011 and was made a deputy lieutenant in the West Midlands in 2014. Paul Faulkner, the GBCC’s chief executive, said: “Jonathan fought a brave
battle against his illness for over two years and we have been overwhelmed with the tributes that have poured in from around the globe. “He will be remembered for his dedication to international trade after
criss-crossing the globe to promote UK business.” Greg Lowson, Birmingham Chamber’s president, said: “Jonathan was a
strong character in everything he did and this manifested itself in his battle against his illness, during which he maintained a stoical and amazingly realistic demeanour.”
Jonathan Webber is pictured (right) with former Liberal Democrat business secretary Sir Vince Cable
Rupi Nandra, on behalf of GBCC International Trade team, said:
“Jonathan was a big-hearted and larger than life character who motivated and inspired everyone who met him. We will miss him deeply but his legacy will live on.” Outside work he was heavily involved in politics - unashamedly and
avowedly Liberal Democrat. Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “I was always grateful
for the support and advice that Jonathan gave me as leader and remember fondly the enthusiasm, energy and optimism with which he always spoke up for the party.”
MARCH 2016 CHAMBERLINK 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60