A daughter has spoken out after being presented with her father’s MBE after he passed away before he was able to receive the award.

Marlow man, John Chapman was named on the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2020 his services to the community something he was said to be “shocked and really humbled” by.

However, he was never able to receive his award with the pandemic cancelling two planned presentations.

His daughter, Lizzi Chapman said: “We felt it was sad more than anything else.

“It was what it was, you can’t change that, but it would have been so wonderful to see him at Buckingham Palace and receive that.

“He was quite traditional and held the Queen in great admiration and all the Royals actually so he would have been so delighted if that could have been the case.”

His family were presented with the award by Lord Lieutenant, Lady Howe at a ceremony on Monday (June 27) at the Marlow Royal British Legion.

It was followed by a service of thanksgiving at All Saints Parish to which the wider community was invited including friends from the global rowing community, here for the Henley Regatta.

Lizzi continued: “It amazed me how many of these organizations had no idea he was involved in all these other things.

“They thought he essentially gave a lot of his time to their cause and couldn’t believe he could fit all those things in but he was an accountant so he was very good at compartmentalising things and a very hard worker.

“I think after my mum passed away around ten years ago he really threw himself, heart and soul, into even more charitable works.

“It gave him a great deal of pleasure and friendship.”

Asked whether it surprised her how much her father was involved in, Lizzi said it did not due to how much her father would talk about the town.

She added: “No, not at all because he would talk to us all the time about all the people he was involved in.

“That’s been lovely for us, everyone loved him so much.

“The Marlow community is wonderful so you can absolutely see why he loved it so much and why he did so much.”

John was born in New Pagnell and also lived in High Wycombe before moving to Marlow in 1986 with Lizzi revealing he was “so proud” to be from Buckinghamshire.

When moving to the town, John saw himself to be a governor at Great Marlow School, and the president of the Chamber of Trade whilst being a trustee of and fundraiser for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

He played an important role in the town getting their annual late-night Christmas shopping event at the start of December, as well as being the president of the Rowing Club.

Many will also know him from reciting the Kohima on Remembrance Sunday as president of Marlow British Legion.

Following his retirement from the Marlow Chamber of Commerce, he continued to offer his help to businesses with his knowledge from being a chartered accountant.

As well as a church treasurer, John became a founder member of the Chilterns Prostate Cancer Support Group, which helps newly diagnosed men and their loved ones to come to terms with the disease.

He was also a trustee and regular helper at Marlow Age Concern, which provides much-needed fellowship, activities and meals for the elderly.