Obituary: Former BMRB MD John Downham

John Downham, BMRB's first Research Officer and former MD, and a pioneer within the MRS, ESOMAR and other research organisations and initiatives, has died aged 97.

Downham (pictured), who was born in Guildford in 1924, joined the local Home Guard when the Second World War started, then the RAF in 1943 as an Officer Cadet on a six-month RAF Short Course at University College Oxford. As a trainee pilot, he initially trained at St John's College Cambridge, and was commissioned as an air-crew navigator in 1945, latterly serving as an Operations Room Controller.

Returning to Oxford in 1946, after leaving the RAF, he switched to a PPE course and gained a first. In 1948, he joined BMRB as its first Research Officer, and by the late 1950s he had been promoted to the role of Joint Director running BMRB alongside John Treasure, with Downham taking sole control as MD in 1960 when Treasure moved to BMRB-owner JWT. This period also included Downham's first experiences of international research, working on projects in Kenya, Ceylon and South Africa.

During this time, BMRB client Unilever requested help with setting up an in-house research facility, and Downham moved to the firm on a two-year secondment. This turned into a permanent position, with Downham staying at Unilever when Eileen Cole set up the Research Bureau Ltd in 1962 as the UK arm of the European Market Research Group - this became part of Research International, Unilever's international in-house research facility. Downham remained responsible for the client-side operation within Unilever, with international responsibilities including training, quality standards and special projects, until his retirement in 1988. While at BMRB, client the Readers Digest Association commissioned Downham to write a book 'The Communication of Ideas', and he later co-wrote 'Readings in Market Research'.

He joined the UK Market Research Society (MRS) in 1953, became Secretary/Treasurer in 1956 and Chairman in 1959, and during this time the MRS launched a journal, now known as the International Journal of Market Research (IJMR). In addition, he served on the MRS Awards Committee, was a long serving member of the Professional Standards Committee, was elected a Fellow of the MRS in 2000, and received the prestigious MRS Gold Medal in 2001.

Downham was a founder member of the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) committee when it was launched in 1977, becoming President in 1987 until retiring in 2001. He was also involved in ESOMAR, working as the first Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, responsible for drafting the first ICC/ESOMAR International Code of Practice, as well as many of the guidelines. Additionally, he was a member of the Institute of Statisticians, serving on the Council and later serving as Vice Chairman, and he became a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society after the two associations merged. More recently, he was involved in the development of the market research Oral History project, and he was one of the three founders of the Archive of Market and Social Research.

Peter Mouncey, outgoing Editor-in-Chief of the IJMR, who kindly provided the background for this obituary, comments: 'I feel very privileged to have known John and in compiling this obituary, all those I've contacted have underlined my own personal view of John, demonstrating their tremendous respect for his long experience and knowledge of market research and the sector, and as a person always charming, courteous, incredibly helpful and great company socially'.

David Smith of DVL Smith, adds: 'With the passing of John Downham we have lost one of the most outstanding ambassadors the market research industry has ever seen. His superb intellect and integrity were an inspiration to all. His work, publications and professionalism took the industry to the next level. He taught so many people so much. Thank you'.

Downham married June in 1949, and they had four children. June died in 2011, and Downham is survived by his children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.