Carsten SvejgaardJAKOBSENCarsten was born in Ikast, Denmark, the son of Søren Peter Fevre Jakobsen and Emmy Svejgaard Jakobsen. He was a hard-driving but kindly magnate of the international meat industry who always wanted those around him to achieve their full potential and expected no less of himself. Affectionately dubbed the ‘King of Pork’, he was the inspirational force in various multimillion pound companies, including Danish Crown, Tulip Ltd, Plumrose Inc and latterly the Coventry-based Becketts Food Group which he joined as chairman in 2011. Thanks to his strategic vision the business became a multi-site company producing more than 1,000 tonnes of bacon and gammon a week and a leading supplier of bacon to the food service and retail industries in the UK, and throughout Europe. He retired last October, intending to fulfil a dream and move to Portugal with his wife, Christine, and their son, Nicholas. At a service at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, to celebrate Mr. Jakobsen’s life, Andy Clarke, a director of Becketts Food, said of him: “He was a man who always provided an ear when you wanted it, a smile when you didn’t expect it, counsel when you asked for it, advice when you requested it, a lift when you were low, a grounding when you were too high, praise when you did well — and a kick up the backside when you needed it.” According to his sons, Pete and Nicholas, he was man who believed there were no shortcuts to success, only hard work, resilience and dedication. Christine described him as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who wanted only to do the very best for his work and family. After a three-year business apprenticeship, Mr. Jakobsen spent nine years in the Danish military, rising to the rank of major and serving with a UN peacekeeping force. In 1984 he was appointed managing director of SAS Service Partner Ltd, in Copenhagen, which provided support services for SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and then MD of the company’s operations at Heathrow Airport. After a period back in Denmark, in 1994 he was appointed managing director of Hatting Bakery, in Swindon. He met his Jamaican-born wife, Christine, in 1998 while working in Denmark but living in the UK. In 2002 the family moved to Stratford. With his great passion for life and despite an extremely busy business life, Mr. Jakobsen still found time to follow many other interests. These included football — in his youth he had played professionally in Denmark and trained at Chelsea with the legendary goal-keeper Peter Bonetti — rugby, horse-racing, golf, collecting cars and jazz. He once owned a jazz club in Copenhagen and, in his capacity as festival chairman of the meat trade charity, the Butchers and Drovers Charitable Institution, brought the internationally renowned jazz pianist Jools Holland to its annual gala dinner. He also loved entertaining and hosting parties for his family and close friends. Carsten died leaving his wife Christine, sons Nicolas and Pete, sister-in-law Sharon, niece Samantha, daughter-in-law Papaya and grandsons Karaili and Kyan. He lived life to the fullest, with no regrets. Rest in peace my Carsten until we meet again.
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