John was born in the greatest of all Port years, 1927. He worked at Bournemouth Wine Co from 1948-49 before winning the prestigious Vintners Scholar award in 1950. From1951-1960 he worked at Simon Bros & Co Ltd.

In 1957 he passed the MW exam and became one of only 18 people to hold the Master of Wine title at the time. He contributed greatly to the Institute; serving on the IMW Council from 1964-1980 and as part of the Examination Panel (both Theory and Practical) from 1968-1978. After being an MW for ten years he became Chairman of the IMW in 1967, and in the same year was also the Chairman of the Wine and Spirit Trades’ Benevolent Society. In 2017 he celebrated his 60th anniversary as a Master of Wine at an Awards Ceremony at Vintners’ Hall in London.

During the seventies John was a Trustee of WSET, and joined the Livery of the Vintners’ Company in 1983. He was Director for Deinhard & Co throughout the sixties (1960-1970) and became Chairman and MD of H.Parrot which was owned by Veuve Clicquot, from 1970–1990. Afterwards he joined the board of Louis Latour and subsequently Chairman of Louis Latour Agencies.

John died peacefully at home on Tuesday 20 May aged 97. Devoted husband of Marigold. Adored father of Rupert, Dilly, Barnabas and much-admired grandfather and great grandfather.

Memories from Masters of Wine

By Philip Goodband MW
John was one of the early, pioneering  MW’s and certainly a member of the “old School”. I was the buyer at Stowells of Chelsea in the early 1980’s where I learned that John Clevely had also been at one time an alumnus. This was at a time when Champagne and Burgundy were rising in popularity but prices at least for the latter had not yet scored into the stratosphere and John came to sell to us was a gentleman in all senses of the word, his word was his bond and whenever there was an availability issue with “The Widow” which did happen from time to time due to demand exceeding supply, he was most apologetic saying that  allocations would have to be introduced but that he would ensure we never went short! I never remember  running out of stock! .He was very generous with his time and on at least one occasion I remember him sitting on the edge of a table at Stowells Hatfield office explaining all matters wine to an enthralled group of students from the company’s depots and stores who I recall were due to take WSET  exams. His explanations were so clear and delivered in such a way everyone could understand without embarrassment . The questions kept coming and time moved on but John was never in a never a rush. One of his favourite stories was that he once went to a lecture at Vintners Hall entitled “The lesser known wines of France including wines of the Loire, Alsace and the Rhone Valley” As they left  he asked a fellow student  if he had enjoyed  the lecture. His response was that as the acoustics were so bad at the back of the hall he couldn’t hear anything and that for him they were still the lesser known wines of France. His easy and unassuming manner endeared him to many including myself. I am privileged to have had him as a friend, supplier and MW colleague.  I am sure Rupert and his family are very proud of him and everything he achieved and I send thoughts and prayers and my thanks for a life well lived.