Wed 4th May 2016Brigadier John Wright CBE Sad Passing of Former HPA Chairman
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Brigadier John Wright CBE, who died peacefully in his sleep at 5am this morning, Wednesday 4 May 2016, after a short battle with cancer.
With a strong passion for polo, John's life was filled with the sport that he loved for 43 years. His involvement in polo first began in 1973 when posted to Cyprus, John decided to ‘have a go’ in the small military polo club out there. This interest in polo would continue long after his military career, with John going on to successfully run his beloved Tidworth Polo Club, following his retirement from the Army in 1995, where he had been the Director of The Joint Planning Staff at Headquarters Land in Wilton.
When John took over Tidworth Polo Club, the Club membership was at 65 with almost half of those members made up of military personnel. In 2012, the Club boasted 160 members of which 65 were military. Having handed over the running of the now hugely popular Club in 2012, John went on to become Chairman of the HPA, a position he took seriously and performed dutifully until he retired from his post in 2015. Never forgetting the roots of polo, John was a fierce advocate of the low goal. John's other polo posts included elected Steward, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and Chairman of Pony Club Polo from 1990 – 1998.
Having led a full and busy life, John is survived by his wife, Christiane, and his three children Claudia, Peter and Alicia, as well as many friends, both from polo and the Army.
There will be a private funeral taking place in Germany, with a memorial service to celebrate John's life to take place in England later this summer.
A full obituary will follow in the June issue of Polo Times, together with confirmation of the memorial service details.
We send our condolences to Christiane, Claudia, Peter and Alicia at this sad time.
Photograph: Brigadier John Wright CBE former Chairman of the HPA. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com
 | | Other top stories
Thu 23rd Apr 2026 U.S Open Polo Championship Finalists Against All Odds Pilot and BTA are through to the Final after two unexpected Semi Finals
Wed 22nd Apr 2026 2026 Argentine Triple Crown Dates & Teams Plus Qualification Tournament
Mon 20th Apr 2026 The U.S. Open Polo Championship Semi Finals Are Set Coca Cola, BTA, Pilot and La Dolfina Tamera through to knock out stages
Wed 15th Apr 2026 2026 Polo Award Nominations The Public Vote categories have been shortlisted
Tue 14th Apr 2026 The U.S. Open Polo Championship Update Action at The National Polo Center Continues
Wed 8th Apr 2026 Mrs Momma Bear/ Lonesome Wind Ranch Win The Outback Cup Father/son Azzaro duo take home the final NPC 16 Goal title in overtime
Tue 7th Apr 2026 Golden Pilot Pilot win The USPA Gold Cup
Wed 1st Apr 2026 The U.S. Open Begins Today Pilot vs The Dutta Corp and Park Place vs La Fe
Tue 31st Mar 2026 Delayed but Dramatic La Dolfina Oriental win The Copa República Argentina
Mon 30th Mar 2026 Delayed Yet Dramatic La Dolfina Oriental win The Copa República Argentina
Mon 30th Mar 2026 USPA Gold Cup Final Rained Off Semi Final wins for Pilot and La Dolfina Scone but a delayed Final
Thu 26th Mar 2026 Polo Times April Issue Out Soon A jam-packed issue to get you ready for the season ahead
|