Obituary: David Scatchard

Many in the trade were deeply saddened last week to learn of the death of David Scatchard, a long-time champion of Spanish wines, who died in his sleep on 24 May.

David was born in Scarborough in 1923 and, following service with the RAF in Burma during the Second World War, he settled in Liverpool and spent 20 years importing fruit and vegetables.

In 1967 he turned his experience to the wine trade, setting up an import, wholesale and retail business with an emphasis on Spain.

David’s vocal support for Spanish wine during the tough trading conditions of the 70s and early 80s was recognised in 1985 with his investiture as one of the six founder members of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.

Among the producers he championed during their early days in the UK market were Rioja brands Paternina and subsequently Campo Viejo, whose t-shirt he was wearing when he died.

To many of his friends, David was known as the “Loco from Liverpool”, perhaps a fitting epitaph for one of the trade’s great characters.

Gabriel Savage, 01.06.2009