New chairman sets his sights on charity work

11:21am Thursday 15th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

THREE prominent charities in Ryedale are to benefit when Coun John Raper takes over as chairman of the district council today.

Ryedale Special Families, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service and York Cancer Research will be the focus of his year in office highlighting years of interest in health care and work with disadvantaged youngsters.

Becoming Ryedale's first citizen will mark another chapter on John's eventful life which has seen him in roles of an RAF police officer, guarding against IRA terrorists, and in civilian life as a butcher, chocolate powder shoveller, and top Yorkshire sausage maker!

While he joined the district council in 1999, he was no stranger to the local government scene, having served a term as a York city councillor.

John was brought up in Stutton, near Tadcaster, and on leaving school at 15, went into the butchery business. Six years later he joined the RAF.

He later returned to his original trade, working for British Home Stores, then found himself joining a butchery company.

Shortly after he met his wife-to-be Debbie, and he embarked on another career at Rowntrees in York, shovelling 20 tons of chocolate powder a day.

He then branched out setting up his own butchery business in York. It was while he was running his business in Acomb that he earned the distinction in two successive years of being the Yorkshire Supreme Sausage-making champion.

He ventured into making pies and built up a successful pastry range. But the opening of a supermarket nearby seriously damaged his takings, so he moved to a wholesale butchery concern at Driffield. It was there that he was asked to operate a van round, covering the Wolds.

He was so impressed with the countryside, that he bought the round which he ran for seven years before foot and mouth brought it to a halt.

Today, he can be seen behind the wheel of buses run by the Yorkshire Coastliner Service, a career change he began after obtaining his PSV licence.

He has seen a change in emphasis in public concerns in his vast rural ward. "People used to be concerned about crime but that is now very low. Their issues now are health care."

During his year of office, John, Ryedale's member for the villages of Sherburn, Staxton and Foxholes and East Heslerton, plans to highlight the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service and Ryedale Special Families.

His interest in Special Families developed after doing voluntary work with children while in York. "The organisation does a fantastic job, helping families with children with health problems."

He also wants to support York Cancer Research, especially following the recent death of Mrs Ann Cottam, wife of Coun Brian Cottam.

One of the fundraising events will be a charity garden party in the grounds of his home at Foxholes on June 28.

Debbie, who will be chairman's Lady, works at York District Hospital as a health care assistant in the stroke rehabilitation unit.

"Both the NHS in York and Yorkshire Coastliner have been very good in arranging for us to have time off to undertake civic engagements," said John.

The couple have two sons, James, 26, and Richard, 23.