John wanted to ski very badly and when myself and his daughter Jacquie got work in Zurich for a year in 2000 he was keen to give it a go. Unfortunately he hurt his knee badly on Bracknell dry ski slope whilst practising before coming to CH for the winter. When he got there we all met in beautifiul Lauterbrun valley for a ski. It was a perfecty day and we sat around watching people zooming by. John got his skis on and determined to have a go he pointed them down the mountain and proclaimed "Jeronimo" I caught the whole thing on camera. That was it. One run with a crash at the end. He never skied again. His fire burned short and bright!

The very first time I looked at him,

It made my heart beat fast.
I fell in love completely,
I knew that it would last.

He didn’t really notice me,
He didn’t even smile,
But I just stared so lovingly
Gaping at him, all the while.

He turned his head and looked away,
He didn’t even know,
That I had given him my heart,
And that I loved him so.

Just one glance it took,
To set my heart ablaze.
This love for him will last,
To the end of all my days.

How powerful is the gift of love,
To happen as quickly as this.
I hadn’t even held his hand,
Much less a loving kiss.

But as time goes on this love of mine,
I hope will love me too.
I have a faint suspicion
That is, what he will do.

But just in case you’re wondering,
Who has changed my life so far?
Well he is my little grandson,
And I am, his proud grandpa.

I met John through The Golf Circle Midlands run by Sue Wilson, John being a member of a similar organisation in the South.  We joined forces for overseas golfing holidays and became good friends - yes, that is me in the tam o' shanter with John in Peebles in 2006.  We liked a bit of fun.  I remember the same evening at the hotel we both dressed as sheikhs but nobody seem to notice so we tried our hand at romancing the ladies and noboty seemed to notice that either.

John helped us with his calligraphy skills, carefully writing out all the place names for our wedding in his lovely style.  He was also always asked to do the same for Golf Circle and Mulligans golf events.  These were always much appreciated and added to the enjoyment of the day  

Since I married and moved south we met regularly until a month ago.  John was very stoical about his health and, despite his many tribulations, was always determined to enjoy life.  You can see this in the photos on this memorial site - he is always laughing and smiling. 

Last winter, John and I had a golfing break at Heythrop Park.  The weather was fine but dreadfully cold and John needed a buggy to get round.  After only a very few holes we had to stop to defrost our fingers and John produced a bottle of his fine whisky and with my thermos of coffee we stopped at every tee for a warmer.  By the end of the round neither of us could remember our scores and John's driving certainly didn't improve.   The only time he really worried me was when he insisted on driving a golf buggy at full speed around Aphrodite Hills golf course up and down steep cliff faces!  I actually thought he was trying to scare me which he certainly did! but that was John.  I will miss a good friend but have many happy memories. 

CHARLIE MATES Wrote: " I consider myself privileged to have know John. We meet at a Calligraphy Class, I was working on the restoration of Cliveden Mansion (Staying in a Cottage on the estate) and noticed a add in the local paper re tuition by Ruby Lunn and joined the class.As John and I were the only men in the Class we got on well. That was more than fifteen years ago!!! I could not match Johns skill with a Pen he was Brilliant. We went together to other Venues for tuition and became good friends.  Once my work at Cliveden was completed I returned to London but kept in touch with John and visited him often.

I shall never forget John he was my FRIEND."

SUE WILSON:  I shall never forget that day in Scotland, when the rest of us were in the mini bus on the way to one golf course or another.  You and George were in George's Jag following behind and donned those ghastly tam-o'-shanters with the red hair.  You drove along looking terribly serious but extremely funny!  I also forgave you for referring to me as the Fuhrer (almost immediately actually, 'cause I knew you didn't mean it.  Did you?!).

My wife Fenola and I have been good friends with John since we first met him when he came out to work with me in Bahrain in the early 80's. John had been a British Airways overseas engineer on the European circuit for many years so working a 12hr night shift at Bahrain International with temperatures in the 40's C came as a bit of a shock! How he must have missed those civilised working hours in Europe. He soon fitted in and the social life was good and he enjoyed his time there and our friendship lasted till his passing.

Always loved this pic of John having a quiet word with his grandson Josh at the back of Wells Cathederal on a summers day in 2013. He must have known he was unwell and the inclination of his head suggests that he's got something important to say. It doesn't matter what it was but for me it shows his unending and quiet influence he had on his family. 

Jacquie, Johns daughter, and I met him in Harare during our "5star backpacking" trip and he travelled with us for a month. During one hot African day he proclaimed that he fancied a cup of tea! I laughed as i bumped down dusty roads that where would we find such a thing as high tea in Africa. Would you believe it that just down the road we came acrss just that " Ye Olde English Tea house" I swear he could smell a cup of tea five mile away!  

After a bit too much "vino collapso" as he called it, one evening in Ireland, he and my dad ended up falling over in the garden and we had to extract them from the roses! John always enjoyed a party...