06 July 2026
A leading figure in independent retail, who devoted decades of service to the sector, has died.
John Lawson passed away on Tuesday 30th June, shortly after celebrating his 89th birthday. Born in Elburton, he began his career in horticulture, helping to run Dorey and Lawson, known for its Elburton tomatoes, before moving into retail in 1971 to run FTB Lawson Ltd in Plymouth for the next 30 years. He joined the British Hardware Federation and helped set up Home Hardware in North Devon to supply the business.
He went on to become a lifelong supporter of Bira, serving as President as well as a long-standing member of the Board of Management and the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, where he represented members' interests to parliamentarians. At branch level, he served repeatedly as both Chairman and Treasurer over many years.
Bira said Mr Lawson's contribution to the organisation and to independent retail had been immense.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "John gave an extraordinary amount of his time and energy to independent retail over many years, from his branch right through to our Board of Management and our Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. He was one of those rare people who kept coming back to serve, again and again, because he believed so strongly in what we stand for. Everyone at Bira sends their deepest condolences to his family."
Liz Lawson, John's daughter, said: "My father, John, lived a full and generous life, marked by kindness, quiet strength and a deep appreciation for family, friends and the interests that brought him joy, including classic cars, woodturning, the Rotary Club and growing tomatoes. He touched many lives through his warmth, humour and decency. Throughout his 89 years, John embraced life's joys heartily and faced its challenges with resilience and dignity."
Away from the business, John was also president of Plymouth Rotary and remained a member of Saltram Rotary until his death, and served as Chair of Fox House charity, which supports homeless people in Plymouth. He was married to Jennifer for 58 years, and the couple built a full and energetic life together in Yealmpton.
John is survived by his children, Susan, Liz and Thomas, and his grandchildren, Hannah, Jodie, Louis and Dino.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday 8th August at 3pm at Yealmpton Community Methodist Church, Chapel Road, Yealmpton, PL8 2LZ, where family and friends will gather to celebrate his life. Those unable to attend are welcome to send their memories to be shared and read out on the day.
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