Attended by some 400 people including family, former colleagues, friends and constituents, the eulogies were read by Lord Ryder, Philip Porter and Chapman's sister, Cllr Christine Bateson.

[citation needed] Chapman first stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully, at Stalybridge and Hyde at the 1964 election, but was defeated by the incumbent Labour MP Fred Blackburn.

The seat had previously been vacant, following the death of incumbent MP, former cabinet minister Reginald Maudling, three months before the election.

He was briefly a whip during John Major's administration, one of his principal tasks being to provide Queen Elizabeth II with daily reports of Parliamentary proceedings.

In recognition of his work, he was presented with an award by the British Horse Society's President at the bridge's official opening ceremony.