Tributes to building firm boss and an ‘outstanding supporter of the Rams’
TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of John Kirkland, who ran Derbyshire construction giant Bowmer and Kirkland and was Derby County’s longest-serving director.
Mr Kirkland was chairman of the Heage-based firm for 43 years, played a key part in moving the Rams to Pride Park Stadium and was one of Derbyshire’s most successful businessmen.
He played a pivotal role in building the business into one of the country’s largest privately-owned construction firms, involved in numerous prestigious projects across the UK and employing hundreds of people.
In recent years, the company built Derby Arena, St George’s Park for the Football Association, supermarkets, shopping centres, hotels, schools, offices, warehouses, university buildings and countless large-scale projects worth billions of pounds.
Mr Kirkland was the longest-serving director of Derby County Football Club, sitting on the board from 1981 to 2002 and was president of the club from 2006 until 2008. He was invited to rejoin the board in 2017 and stepped down in October 2019.
Educated at Repton School, Mr Kirkland later studied at Leeds University for a BSC in civil engineering with a view to joining the firm founded by his grandfather Robert Kirkland and Alfred Bowmer in 1923.
After graduating from university in the late 1950s, Mr Kirkland joined rival construction business John
He was very, very proud of the company and all of the people who work in it.
Bowmer & Kirkland
Laing, where he became a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
In 1967, he joined the family business and was appointed a director in 1970, becoming managing director in 1972, then chairman in 1976.
Aside from the business, in 1997 he became director of Southern Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise Board and he became a governor of Landau Forte College, Derby.
Two years later, John Kirkland won recognition for his endeavours when he was awarded the OBE in the 1999 New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his services to Derbyshire.
He also generously contributed to the restoration of Heage Windmill.
Friend and formerly a fellow director at Derby County, Stuart Webb, said: “John was a true champion and, like his father Jack before him, he was an outstanding supporter of the Rams over the years.
“He contributed massively to all things Derby County and we personally shared many championships and trophies together and during the difficult times, John was a pillar of strength to me as we fought off administration in the high courts. “John was always around and available to support the club and offer wise counsel around the boardroom table.
“He will be sadly missed.”
Bowmer & Kirkland released the following statement yesterday: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our former chairman John Kirkland OBE.
“John joined B+K in 1967 and eventually assumed the role of chairman in 1976. He remained chairman for 43 years and in 2019 was succeeded by his son Jack.
“For the past three years, along with his brother Robert, he has been a life president of the company, guiding, supporting and offering his wealth of knowledge to the main board.
“His contribution to B+K has been immense. He was very, very proud of the company and all of the people who work in it.
“In 1999, he received an OBE for services to Derbyshire, in particular for his former role as chairman of Derbyshire Ambulance Service.
“He served as chair of both the Derbyshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from 2000-2008 and the LSC East Midlands Regional Council from 2004-2008.
“He was the longest-serving director of Derby County, president from 2006 until 2008 and invited to rejoin the board in 2017.”