John Spanner worked at Standard Chartered Bank for 37 years and was an Infantry officer in the Territorial Army from 1966 to 1999.

He has chaired the Broad Street Ward Club and was elected to the Court of Common Council 1984 to 2013 for the Ward of Broad Street and then the Ward of Farringdon Without. John was Master of the Worshipful Company of Glovers 2002-03, and is now chairman of that year's Past Masters' Association.