Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar notes, with great sadness, that the death has been announced today of former Governor of Gibraltar, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple.
Sir John was Governor between 1993 and 1995.
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, said: “I have been greatly saddened to hear of the death of former Governor, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple. Sir John remained, throughout his retirement, a huge supporter of Gibraltar, attending all our events when he could. I last saw him at a Gibraltar Day event in London before the pandemic. He was greatly missed on Monday when all former Governors met in London on the occasion of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment mounting the Guard at Buckingham Palace, when he would have been in his element. The obituary in the Times rightly states that Sir John had ‘a penetrating intellect… was not a disparager, did not do enmity… seemed to possess no malice… [but] possessed a mischievous sense of humour’. That is very much how I will remember him. I have written to Lady Chapple and their children expressing the sincere condolences of the People of Gibraltar.”
The Hon Sir Joe Bossano KCMG MP, who was Chief Minster at the time that Sir John was Governor, said: “I am very sorry to hear of the death of John Chapple. He was a good friend and very supportive of my government at the time that he was Governor, even though at that time we had our fair share of disputes with London. Despite that, he was really helpful to all our plans and actions and I enjoyed working with him given his great sense of humour. I remember him very fondly and pass my condolences to Lady Chapple and his children.”
Flags will fly at half-mast in Gibraltar tomorrow and on the day of Sir John’s funeral as a sign of respect and affection from the people of Gibraltar.
