Scotsman Obituaries: John Mayhew, former director Action to Protect Rural Scotland

Throughout a lengthy career in the voluntary environmental sector in Scotland, John consistently and determinedly pressed the case for the better care of the country’s landscapes and nature. He did so in a manner that was always intellectually rigorous, measured and respectful of other people’s views and standpoints.

When he took on the role of Director of a long-established countryside charity, the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, it was – despite a distinguished history – close to moribund and in danger of becoming seriously out of step with developing thinking and priorities in the environmental field.

With the organisation’s finances distinctly shaky, it was a risky step for him to take, even on the part-time basis, which was all that APRS could afford to offer. He brought to the task of rebuilding it not only a well-honed intellect, the professional expertise as a town and country planner and extensive experience of environmental policy, as well as considerable organisational skills and self-discipline, an approachable and engaging style and great good humour. All these served him well in his interactions with the wide range of different people and organisations that the role required of him, from individuals and local communities concerned about proposed developments to Ministers and parliamentarians handling complex public policy issues. In his dealings with the media he could communicate knowledgeably and authoritatively across the wide spectrum of matters on which APRS’s views were seen as relevant.

Under John’s direction, APRS moved from the backwaters of the Scottish environmental scene to being arguably its most successful campaigning NGO. Though the organisation continued to provide advice to local campaigners and contribute to debate across a wide range of landscape issues, John brought APRS’s energies to focus on three major campaigns.

Firstly, establishing a Scottish deposit return scheme for drinks containers, secondly the establishment of more National Parks in Scotland to recognise and celebrate the outstanding quality of its landscapes, and thirdly, stronger protection for and more active management of the country’s Green Belts. In each of these areas APRS achieved very significant progress – most notably the passage of legislation for a deposit return scheme, political commitment to new National Parks by 2026, and better protection for Green Belts in Scotland’s National Planning Framework.

None of these achievements came easily, and although in all of them John was ably assisted by the small (and predominantly part-time) support team he managed to assemble, his personal contribution was fundamental and essential. As a colleague said on his retirement: “He put so much more into the Association than could have reasonably been expected.”

In all his roles John combined efficiency, insight and authority with empathy, tolerance and good humour. He was notably resilient in the face of what were at the time undoubtedly dispiriting setbacks and remained firmly committed to his APRS role despite the organisation’s often insecure finances and in circumstances in which someone more driven by personal ambition might well have looked elsewhere to advance their career.

He even cycled from Gretna Green to John o’Groats to raise money to pay his own salary. The high regard and affection he commanded among all who dealt with him was very much in evidence when he retired from APRS in December 2022.

Beyond APRS itself, John played a pivotal role in strengthening environmental cooperation across Scotland. As Chair of Scottish Environment LINK – the national network of environmental NGOs – he helped increase its credibility as a partner in policy development. His ability to span the worlds of natural heritage, cultural heritage, access and recreation brought a broad perspective to the role, acting as an effective bridge between bodies and groups concerned with natural heritage and those with a cultural heritage remit.

He was also more than happy to take part in various parliamentary stunts, cheerfully throwing himself into a heap of plastic bottles for a press photo or cycling down the Royal Mile to Holyrood dressed-up as Father Christmas!

Previous to joining APRS, John worked for the National Trust for Scotland for two decades, initially organising conservation volunteers and Thistle Camps across Scotland and then moving to the Trust’s new Policy Research Department.

He qualified as a Town Planner and became Head of Policy over a busy period of both internal changes at the Trust and the setting up of the Scottish Parliament. He was much involved in helping inform discussion around many of the important early Acts of the Parliament, including the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 and the first Land Reform (Scotland) Act.

As well as his many roles within SE LINK he undertook other voluntary positions, including as President of the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association from 2017. He also continued his involvement with Scotland’s National Parks as the chair of SCNP from 2023.

John grew up in Birmingham, and studied Geography at Cambridge. He had a great love of the outdoors (and maps) and was a keen hillwalker and skier.

He met his wife-to-be Rachel, an architect in Edinburgh, and they married in 1999. The couple had two sons, Robbie and Ally.

John’s personal attributes were central to his achievements. A previous board member of APRS described John as the most efficient person he has ever had dealings with, a judgment that rang true for all who dealt with him.

Obituaries

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