John Jackson (businessman)
Encyclopedia
John Jackson is an author and campaigner, a current Chairman at the solicitors firm Mishcon de Reya
, and a former Chairman of the Countryside Alliance
. Qualifying as a barrister
in 1954, he had a career in business and the technology industries during the 60s, 70s and 80s: most notably with technology company Philips
. From the 90s onwards he moved into democratic and constitutional advocacy, particularly through the Countryside Alliance, OpenDemocracy.net and Unlock Democracy
.
in 1929, where he lives now. His family moved to the Dorset coast for several years, and then to London as his father found work during the Great Depression
years of the 1930s. He was educated at the The King's School, Canterbury
, and from there he went on to The University of Cambridge to read law as the Squire Scholar in 1949, before qualifying in 1954.
Jackson has three children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and has been married twice. He spent much of his married life in Kent
, continuing the self-sufficient lifestyle he learnt as a child.
, Hilton
, BHP Billiton
, Graseby, Instore, Celltech
, WPP
, Wyndham Press and in the Oxford Technology Venture Capital Trusts. He was appointed non-solicitor Chairman of London law firm Mishcon de Reya
., in 1992
Jackson has also become increasingly involved in political and constitutional debates, initially through campaigning with the Countryside Alliance
, and later by contributing to public discussions and writing articles.
Jackson’s independent publishing venture JJ Books was launched in 2011. JJ Books reissued A Little Piece of England in July 2011. In October 2011 it published "Tales for Great Grandchildren", a collection of fables and mythological tales that Jackson gathered during his travels in Nepal in 1978.
The company plans to publish several new collections of stories (in illustrated hardback and electronic editions), all by Jackson.
Mishcon de Reya
Mishcon de Reya is an international law firm with offices in London offering a range of legal and advocacy services for businesses and individuals...
, and a former Chairman of the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
. Qualifying as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1954, he had a career in business and the technology industries during the 60s, 70s and 80s: most notably with technology company Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. From the 90s onwards he moved into democratic and constitutional advocacy, particularly through the Countryside Alliance, OpenDemocracy.net and Unlock Democracy
Unlock Democracy
Unlock Democracy is a UK pressure group, based in Islington, in London. The organisation campaigns for a more participatory democracy in the UK, founded upon a written constitution. Unlock Democracy works to promote democratic reform across the political spectrum and is not aligned with any...
.
Early life and family
Jackson was born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in 1929, where he lives now. His family moved to the Dorset coast for several years, and then to London as his father found work during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
years of the 1930s. He was educated at the The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the historic English cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group....
, and from there he went on to The University of Cambridge to read law as the Squire Scholar in 1949, before qualifying in 1954.
Jackson has three children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and has been married twice. He spent much of his married life in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, continuing the self-sufficient lifestyle he learnt as a child.
Career
Over the last 60 years Jackson has been engaged in a number of industries, holding chairmanships or directorships in PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, Hilton
Hilton
-Companies:* Hilton Worldwide, a global hospitality company based in the United States** Hilton Hotels, an international chain of hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide** Hilton Garden Inn, a chain of hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide...
, BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, Graseby, Instore, Celltech
Celltech
Celltech Group plc was a leading British-based biotechnology business based in Slough. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
, WPP
WPP
WPP may refer to:* Windows software trace preprocessor* WPP plc, a London-based advertising holding company* Wandsworth Parks Police, a police service in London, England* Witness Protection Program, in USA...
, Wyndham Press and in the Oxford Technology Venture Capital Trusts. He was appointed non-solicitor Chairman of London law firm Mishcon de Reya
Mishcon de Reya
Mishcon de Reya is an international law firm with offices in London offering a range of legal and advocacy services for businesses and individuals...
., in 1992
Jackson has also become increasingly involved in political and constitutional debates, initially through campaigning with the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
, and later by contributing to public discussions and writing articles.
Publishing
A Bucket of Nuts and a Herring Net was published in 1979 (Collins and Harvill Press). It was an account of family life on a small-holding in rural Kent, and of self-sufficiency. The book was reprinted with a new introduction and an end piece in 2000, as A Little Piece of England: A Tale of Self-Sufficiency by Merlin Unwin Books.Jackson’s independent publishing venture JJ Books was launched in 2011. JJ Books reissued A Little Piece of England in July 2011. In October 2011 it published "Tales for Great Grandchildren", a collection of fables and mythological tales that Jackson gathered during his travels in Nepal in 1978.
The company plans to publish several new collections of stories (in illustrated hardback and electronic editions), all by Jackson.