Sir John Zochonis memorial service

10 Jan 2014

University champion to be remembered at Manchester Cathedral

A memorial service for Sir John Zochonis, who died peacefully in hospital in November at the age of 84, will be held at Manchester Cathedral at 2pm on January 28.

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell will speak at the memorial service.

Sir John donated millions of pounds to good causes across the region. He served on the Victoria University of Manchester's Court and Council for over 20 years, applying his business talents to the University’s affairs. He was Chair of Council from 1987-1990 and the Council minutes pay tribute to his ‘intuitive understanding of and sympathy with academic aspirations and student needs’. To mark his tremendous contribution, the University awarded him an honorary degree in 1991 and named the Zochonis Building on Brunswick Street in his honour. Over his lifetime, Sir John was always passionate about supporting local young people. At the University, he instigated the Zochonis Special Enterprise Fund which provides travel awards for students to undertake projects or special study. His most recent gifts were for Zochonis Scholarships which support local young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study for a degree.

Sir John was an industrialist, synonymous with the Imperial Leather soap brand. In the late 1870s Sir John’s great-uncle George and his colleague, George Paterson, launched Paterson Zochonis & Co, to import products from West Africa. The business continued to expand and diversify, and in 1970 Sir John became chairman of the company, now known as PZ Cussons with its impressive headquarters in Cheadle.

After his retirement, Sir John supported many charitable causes and the arts, including both the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s School, funding disadvantaged students and donating to building appeals.

He was born on October 2 1929, and educated at Rugby and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he read Law. After National Service in the army he joined Paterson Zochonis in 1953 and became a director in 1957. A deputy lieutenant and former high sheriff of Greater Manchester, he was knighted in 1997. He married Brigid Demetriades (née Smyth) in 1990.

Sir John’s family have asked that there should be no flowers and that donations, in John's memory, should be given to Chetham's School of Music.