John Madejski: Difference between revisions

Sir John Robert Madejski
Born	Robert John Hurst (1941-04-28) 28 April 1941 (age 83) Stoke-on-Trent, England
Occupation(s)	Company director, Football club chairman, University Chancellor

Sir John Robert Madejski OBE DL (born Robert John Hurst on 28 April 1941 in Stoke-on-Trent) is an English businessman, with a raft of commercial interests, spanning property, broadcast media, hotels, restaurants, publishing and football. As of 2007^[update], he is in the top 200 wealthiest people in the UK, with a net worth said to be in the region of £400 million (see Sunday Times Rich List 2007). He changed his name when his stepfather, a Polish airman during World War II, returned to Britain to marry his mother.

John Madejski is perhaps best known as chairman of Reading F.C., but he is also Chancellor of the University of Reading and Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire. He is a benefactor to many institutions, especially in academia, education and the arts.^[1]

While on holiday in Florida in the mid 1970s Madejski saw a car sales magazine that included pictures of the vehicles on sale. He immediately realised the potential of the idea, and founded Thames Valley Trader in 1976. Initially the magazine sold anything and everything, from houses to cars and even aircraft, but it soon concentrated solely on vehicles, and was renamed Auto Trader. Madejski partnered with the Guardian Media Group in 1982 to give the title national exposure. By 1998, 52 titles were being published with a combined circulation of more than 700,000. In 1998 he sold his company Hurst Publishing for £174 million

John Madejski became chairman of the Football League club Reading F.C. in 1990, and has given his name to the club's Madejski Stadium, built in 1998 with £25 million largely contributed by him. He plucked Reading from the jaws of the receivers, and now owns 98 per cent of the club he rescued. He said "When Robert Maxwell was alive I offered him five pounds a share. When he fell off his boat I got them for 10p. Funny old life isn't it?".^[2] In 2006 he led the Royals to the top tier of English football for the first time in their 135-year history, and has since proposed plans for an expansion of the stadium to 38,000 seats ^[3]. Having guided Reading to the Premier League Madejski is ready to sell up, so long as the offer is a good one, saying:

The brand is getting stronger all the time and if there is a billionaire who wants a nice accessory down the M4 then come and talk to me. Apart from Manchester United, unless you've got a sugar daddy with really deep pockets, you're wasting your time.^[4]

Madejski has since added that Reading's next owner will have to be super-yacht rich. "I'll listen to sensible offers - but from billionaires only. Millionaires need not apply."

The club achieved pre-tax profits of £6.6m during the tax year ending in June 2007 and the club has recently been valued at £100 million^[5].

He is also a benefactor to the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly, London and in 2004 had the John Madejski Fine Rooms at Burlington House named after him in recognition of a contribution of £3 million to the institution. A sculpture by Edgar Degas, La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans, he purchased at Sotheby's in 2004 is also on display in the John Madejski Fine Rooms. The John Madejski Centre for Reputation at Henley Management College, the new garden at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a lecture theatre at the University of Reading and a gallery at the Museum of Reading also bear his name. He has recently contributed to the running of Thamesbridge College, Reading, which re-opened in September 2006 under the new name of the John Madejski Academy.

Madejski has said he is not particularly concerned about how this might appear adding "People can think what they like about me. I don't care. It's never been a popularity contest. I do it all for the community. In my view, you start life with nothing and you end it with nothing. I'd like to enjoy it all before I kick the bucket." His latest project is a £500m redevelopment of Reading town centre.

Madejski is active in politics: he has contributed extensively to the Conservative Party and was vociferous in his calls for the removal of the then party leader Iain Duncan Smith in 2003.

He owns a large number of luxury cars, owning a couple of Rolls-Royces, two Bentleys, four Jaguars, an AC Cobra and a pair of Ferraris, including a red 328 which sits inside a glass case in the gym of his home.

Madejski has two children, but has never married. He made front-page headlines in UK tabloid newspapers in October 2004 due to his alleged romantic attachment with singer and TV star Cilla Black. The pair became friends due to their mutual affiliation with the Conservative Party. On 3 March 2007, Madejski was shown on the BBC programme Match of the Day seated between Cilla and Chris Tarrant watching the Reading F.C. game against Arsenal F.C. at the Emirates Stadium. He is often seen watching football games at Reading's Madejski Stadium with celebrities such as Jennifer Saunders and Lenny Henry.

• In 2000 Madejski was awarded the OBE in "recognition of his contribution to Reading Football Club and the Reading community". He is also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.

• In 2006 he was admitted as a Freeman of the Borough "in recognition of the distinguished service rendered to the Borough of Reading, by his contribution to the growth and success of football in Reading, and by his support for education and arts".

• In July 2007, Madejski was made the Chancellor-elect of the University of Reading – to succeed to the post in December 2007 on the retirement of The Lord Carrington^[6].

• On 14 December 2007, Madejski was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters University of Reading and formally installed as the 7th Chancellor of the University.^[7]

• On 31 December 2008, Madejski became a Knight Bachelor in recognition of his charitable services.^[8][9]

• The John Madejski Academy
• Pictures of the restored galleries at the Royal Academy and John Madejski Fine Rooms
• The John Madejski Garden
• The John Madejski Art Gallery
• BBC Sport interview after Reading were promoted to the Premiership
• BBC Radio Berkshire interview after Reading were promoted to the Premiership
• Football boss made uni chancellor

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