Duncan Chapman - Du
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n Wednesday 6 October, Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust Board member and Football Club Director, Duncan Chapman passed away. A fixture on the terraces for so many years, elected to the Trust Board 2017. It’s hard to overstate how fortunate we, the Club and every supporter of Dulwich Hamlet – were to have him. Duncan’s time on the board coincided when the team was forced to play away from East Dulwich, his contribution to the survival of the club during this period was enormous. The esteem in which he was held, following his long career in Parliament, opened doors for the club and the Trust, exemplified by the debate led by Helen Hayes MP in the House of Commons 16/3/18. September 2018, still in exile and with no prospect to return, the club faced imminent insolvency. Now Joint-Chair, Duncan was an instrumental member of a small group, alongside Club Chair, to broker dialogue between stadium owners and Council that might enable the Club to return. Never seeking the limelight and during this difficult and intensely pressurised period, his contribution behind the scenes was invaluable. Against the odds, and at the 11th hour, a return home was agreed. His calm head under pressure, wise counsel, astuteness and commitment to collaborative working, enabled the Trust to forge a close working relationship with the Club. This was critical in kickstarting a series of investments and improvements in working relationships, leading to our investment of £100,000 and a 29% shareholding in the Club. Something Duncan was rightly extremely proud of – at the heart of everything he did was his steadfast commitment to ensure the Club’s continued existence for our community, now and for future generations. Continuing to take responsibility for liaising with the Council, local MPs and government in relation to the planning application for the new stadium, in 2020 he became the first member of the Club’s board of directors to be nominated by the Trust. Not satisfied with this, Duncan spent many a match and non-match day completing safety assessments, working tirelessly on the planning proposals and, as he said himself, dealing with the recurrent blockages in Champion Hill’s antediluvian plumbing systems. It’s hard to believe that such a generous, kind friend has left us. Wise counsel to many, ale aficionado, curry lover, away day specialist, too often coach monitor, caring and giving to the last – Duncan, we will miss you desperately. You have gone too soon. We will never forget you. DHST Board October 2021
22 | SE22 - November 2021
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@dhstorg
hree years ago this week I burst into the ‘Two Chairmen’ in Westminster having run from the meeting in Whitehall in which we secured our return home to Champion Hill from exile in Tooting. I had left Duncan Chapman and Tom Cullen after telling them I would be back in an hour, just enough time for them to sink a quick lunch-time pint to settle the nerves. I am not sure how many pints that turned into as one hour became four and the meeting became a marathon rather than a sprint but at least we could blame the beer for some of the jumping, hugging and tears of three grown men crashing like pink and blue waves in a grey sea of Government suits. Seeing their faces when they saw the smile on mine as I came through
