Tribute to Bonser

Terence Bonser, one of the architects of the post-War meat industry and a leading figure at the Worshipful Company of Butchers (WCB) and the Royal Smithfield Club, has died at the age of 92.

After the Second World War, and along with Harold Padbury and Donald Aries, he amalgamated several small, privately owned meat firms that had been operating on Smithfield pre-War into one large company, United Fresh Meat. He became a senior director of the company.

"This was a brave move after 15 years of meat under control, as free trading did not resume until 1954, but a good illustration of Terence's foresight in meat trading matters" said past Master of the WCB Graham Sharp, paying tribute to Mr Bonser Terence Bonser was born in 1915 into a family steeped in the meat industry. His father was Master of the Company in 1922, and his grandfather was Master in 1887. Terence joined the livery in 1937 and became Master of the Company in 1973. He died just two months short of being a member of the Company for 70 years.

Terence's meat interests extended further to The Royal Smithfield Club. He served on the Council for several years, and he and Ernest Gunner were instrumental in introducing the carcase exhibition and competition at the Royal Smithfield Show, which had previously been predominantly a livestock and farm machinery event. He became president of The Royal Smithfield Club in 1979.

In 1976, he served as festival chairman of the BDCI, later encouraging a closer liaison between the WCB and the charity.

He served for a number of years as chairman of MTJ's editorial board.

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