John was born on January 13th 1940, which was of course, during the Second World War. His Dad, Harry was away in France and Mum, Mabel, was home in Bermondsey, London, with big sister Iris and brother Harry; younger sister Shirley came along later. John was, in fact, lucky to survive as a child, because he was in Guys Hospital when the building was bombed; his much loved Grandfather, Harry, raced there to rescue him. At the tender age of three, John was evacuated out of London to a Nunnery in Wiltshire; apparently, when he returned home, his accent resembled that of ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’. Once back home with the family though, his Cockney accent was soon restored, I imagine, to the relief of everyone. After a brief few years of living in Kent and with the war over, the family returned to Bermondsey where John’s parents owned a very busy café at London Bridge; John was to go on to inherit his parents entreprenurial talents which were to set him in good stead for the rest of his life. John married Pamela in 1962 and this year they celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary… fifty precious and special years together. They met when Pam was just fifteen years old, at the local ballroom. Pam was being watched over by her five brothers. Teddy, the eldest, insisted in escorting Pam, just to give John the once over; in the end, all of Pam’s family thought that John was great. John started his working life by following his Grandfather, Father and Brother Harry into employment at the docks on the river Thames.. this was a family tradition, but was not to be for Harry as he went on to become a well known Fleet Street photographer. John, with Pam at his side, opened up two fashion shops and a chain of market stalls across London and the south east of England. The couple went on to produce two adorable children, Karen and Dean who were both born in the early 1960’s. When Karen reached school age, John decided that the children would be better off being schooled in the countryside; so the family bought a small farm in Kent and started living the good life. It was to be a wonderful time for them all and the things that John missed most in Spain was the lack of oak trees and the greenery, here on the Costa Calida. Once the children had grown up and flown the nest, Pam and John gave up their retail business, bought a big yacht and would eventually sail off to Spain. John gained his sailing knowledge and his certificates at the merchant Naval College, Nr London; he had also taken up Judo and went on to win a gold medal. His other sporting loves at that time and right up to his passing were Clay pigeon shooting and snooker. The shooting skills were to lead John and Pam into another business, both in Sussex and here in Mazarron, where many, many, happy times were enjoyed with customers who went on to become good and close friends. John was so very proud to see both his children, Karen and Dean, become successful in their chosen careers. Karen went into the music business and travelled the world as a backing singer with the Bay City Rollers and also leading a very happy family life with Eric and two wonderful Sons, Alfie and Freddie. Dean won a scholarship to a public school and with his fine brain [inherited, of course], went on to work in various financial posts. Now, along with his lovely wife Beth and son, Sam, they own their own nursing agency, with John’s oldest Grandchild Lucie, leading a successful career in dentistry. John was described to me as a quiet and very private man, even though he has dealt with the public for all of his life…. He was a man of special qualities. Even though Pamela, Karen, Dean and all the family are devastated at the loss of John, they feel so privileged and lucky to have been loved and cared for, by a real man amongst men. God bless you John