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60 OBITUARIES

KEVIN HAND Twitter celebrity behemoth, Heat. The 1994 acquisition of FHM
became a million-seller and worldwide leader in a hot decade for
young men’s magazines. That was also the year that Kevin moved
OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1964 - 1969 to Paris, where he successfully turned a mixed bag of acquired,
mostly loss-making magazines into strong profits. EMAP and
Kevin were firing on all cylinders.
Kevin Hand, a controversial
and influential leader in
the UK magazine market His reward – four years later – was appointment as CEO of the
for almost thirty years, has EMAP PLC parent. The UK’s hottest media company was valued
died in London after a short at £1 billion and was growing strongly across magazines, radio,
illness. He was aged 64. business information and exhibitions.

He began his media career Kevin left EMAP in 2001 and went on to become Chairman
as a graduate trainee at of Hachette and the Professional Publishers Association; he
the former Link House, also held a directorship of IPSO, the UK’s post-hacking media
which published enthusiast watchdog. In addition, he was, for a period, on the Board of
magazines on cars, boats, Leicester De Montfort University.
wine and caravans. In 1983, he joined EMAP, the larger and
livelier East of England publisher, built from regional newspapers In his private life, Kevin had a passion for the Leicester Tigers and
and magazines on motorbikes, photography, cars, fishing and Leicester City Football Club, as well as being an avid supporter
gardening. It had started to accelerate with the ground-breaking of English Test cricket. He also loved nothing more than getting
1978 launch of the million-selling fortnightly Smash Hits. EMAP his family and friends together at his homes in London and Ibiza,
had crashed the big league of UK magazine publishers. which were always fun occasions.

After five years as Circulation Director, Kevin became Chief Kevin has left his wife, Fiona, four daughters - Emily, Jessica, Didi
Executive of EMAP’s consumer magazines. For the booming and Joccoaa - and five grandchildren, in addition to his brother,
company, they were very special times. In less than ten years, he Denis Hand (66).
doubled the portfolio to 100 magazines and more than trebled
operating profits to £65 million as he raced to catch IPC, the In September, a memorial service was held on Fleet Street to
long-time market leader. celebrate Kevin’s life. It was attended by over 300 people, drawn
from all sectors of the media industry.
The performance was turbo-charged by best-selling magazine
launches in the young women’s, music and entertainment Denis Hand (66), with excerpts from
sectors, including Empire, Mojo, More, Bliss, Just 17, and the pre- the ‘Flashes & Flames’ website

JOHN PATRICK CAMPBELL wife, John never lost his faith, and he
remained a devout Catholic to the end.

OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1939 - 1941 John was a people person and, when
JULY 1925 - DECEMBER 2015 in good health, he was involved in all
areas of the community on a daily basis,
visiting sick parishioners, acting as a
John Patrick Campbell was born in 1925 in a ‘two-up two-down’ long-standing local cricket umpire, and
on Blake Street, Leicester. He was the eldest of three children, being President of the Leicester Darts
with two sisters, Sheilagh and Mary.
League, amongst other things.
John entered Ratcliffe College and De Lisle house in 1939, joining John was a member of St Peter’s Parish, Leicester. Fr John Cahill
his two cousins, Jack and Ben Bradshaw. At 6’ 6”, he excelled at described him as a ‘much loved and respected church member
both cricket and rugby.
who will remain in our thoughts and prayers for many years to
come’. John was known in the parish and wider community as the
John joined the Royal Navy in 1943 and, due to his height, ‘gentle giant with a heart of gold’.
immediately acquired the nickname ‘Lofty’. He was assigned
to the aircraft carrier HMS Glory and embarked in 1945 to fight John was a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather;
the Japanese in the Pacific. John was on board at the Japanese he was adored by all of his children and grandchildren who,
surrender in Papua New Guinea.
at his funeral, splattered his coffin with lipstick kisses! Always
remembered and always loved, he is sadly missed by us all.
John married Joyce in 1952 and became the proud father of three
girls - Anne, Patricia and Johanna. Tragedy struck in 1962 when John’s Family
Joyce died giving birth to a much-wanted son. Despite losing his

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