Born 16 October 1938, John was brought up in Tooting learning the piano from the age of 3. He attended Fircroft Infant and Junior schools receiving an excellent academic, spiritual and musical education. At the age of 9, he gained a piano scholarship to the Royal College of Music.
At eleven, John gained a scholarship to Emanuel studying Classics to A level. He was selected to play chess for the school in his second year, and the Colts Rugby team a year later. John was a member of the CCF and, with his friend Dick Tarrant, was proud to have introduced the first silent drill for Howe House in the Grundy Cup. John fondly recalled the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the school in 1951 where he had the opportunity to meet and speak briefly with her.
Class 1Ex. – John is top row, third from right
1953-54 Colts XV – John is seated middle row, last on the right
John joined the 16/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers at the start of his 2 years National Service. He was later attached to the Intelligence Corps learning Russian to become an interpreter, gaining expertise in Interrogation Techniques and Psychological Warfare both of which, he said, were useful in later life!
After National Service, John was proud to say that he’d never applied for a job or office but was always invited to take up post. He joined Smith Corona as a Sales Administration Assistant in 1960, moving to Olympia Business Machines, part of the Daimler Benz Group, in 1963. John was quickly promoted through the ranks taking up several senior executive positions, including Managing Director for a subsidiary company turn-around and Director of Sales and Marketing. Before retiring in 1993, he’d become a leading figure in the Office Technology industry, regularly sought as a trusted spokesman by the National Press. John’s television advertising won a top New York industry award for innovation, Bristol University called on his expertise in setting up their ‘‘Business-to-Business” marketing course, and he was the recipient of The Royal Warrant at Buckingham Palace.
In describing himself, John would say he was “a servant of the Church”. At Holy Trinity Tooting, John was a choir boy at 7, head chorister at 9 and played the organ for his first church service at eleven. John moved to St Michael & All Angels, Croydon, whose organ is considered one of the finest in Europe. He was appointed Assistant Director of Music at fifteen and Director of Music at twenty five.
John had a gift for leading congregations in hymns, choir training and played the church organ to recital standard – the musical repertoire and reputation of St Michael’s grew. He was instrumental in raising over £500,000 for the church. In 1997, John moved to St Olave, Mitchem to become Director of Music for eight happy years.
In this period, John took on leadership roles in Thornton Heath’s Round Table and 41 Club, raising money for charity.
John had a distinguished Synodical Governance career holding Board and Committee posts between 1971 and 2005. He was expert in church and charity law, was appointed an independent financial examiner, and ran finance courses for Southwark Diocese. John joined Lambeth WelCare as their Treasurer and Trustee where he pioneered a surrogate grandparent programme.
Shortly after John’s move to Devon in 2005, he was appointed Deanery Secretary and headed the Finance and Institution committee, assisted with choir practices and the recruitment of a Director of Music at St Mary Magdalene, Launceston. He later became Director of Music at St Peter and St Paul Holsworthy, additionally playing the organ for local school and town services. In 2016, John was awarded Maundy Money by the Queen for his “exemplary and unstinting service to the Church and the Community”. He held his last organ recital in 2022 aged 83.
With Maundy Money presented by the Queen in March 2016
John enjoyed golf. He was Secretary and Captain of Falconwood Golf Club setting up their ‘Vet’ section. On moving to Devon, he became a regular at Holsworthy Golf Club. John was a member of the OEA and OEGC and highly valued the friendships and camaraderie here.
John married Helen in 1968. He had two children and four grandchildren and was a much-loved man. He was a mentor, a teacher, a confidante, a friend and an inspiration to many. Described by one of his friends as “the best human being I have ever met”, we know his legacy will live on through those whose lives he’s touched.
By Eleanor Newman, daughter