Tribute to a 'remarkable' journalist, author and sailing enthusiast
A member of Hill Head Sailing Club for more than 50 years and a Daily Echo writer for several years, he has died at his Winchester care home, aged 93.
John, a long term resident of Titchfield, was born in Southampton in 1932 and evacuated to Wimborne during the war.
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Encouraged by his parents, he developed a love for reading, learning and exploration from a young age.
But he was a small-boat yachtsman at heart and crewed frequently on yachts of all types.
Following National Service at The British Military Hospital in Hanover just five years after the end of World War II, John joined a gas company for a short time before becoming a general journalist at Salisbury Magistrates Court.
He joined the Southampton Evening Echo in 1955, before moving to The Portsmouth Evening News as the sailing correspondent three years later. After a short spell in Wimbledon, he returned to Southampton to join the features team, contributing a weekly yachting column and writing under the pseudonym Tom Bargate.
John wrote four books – two editions of Open Book Cruising, Boats of the Longshoremen and Solent Shores – a history of the Solent Shores from Bembridge to the Needles on the IOW and Hurst Castle to Chichester.
(Image: Family collection) John was married to Liz for twenty years from 1971and then to Roma, until she died in 1997.
Known for his kindness and generosity, John had many interests, from outdoor adventures to cultural pursuits, all approached with his trademark enthusiasm and dedication.
Throughout his life, John owned a succession of sailing boats. He joined Hill Head Sailing Club in 1971 and it became his favourite haunt.
His knowledge of wooden boat repair and maintenance was unmatched and he once navigated to shore through thick fog just by shouting across and fixing his position.
John often sailed to the IOW with a friend, spending ten minutes on shore before returning to Hill Head. They also often sailed to South East Bramble and Hill Head buoy.
John's funeral will take place at Wessex Vale Crematorium on Tuesday February 25 at 3pm. Donations in his memory should be sent to social care charity the Brendoncare Foundation care of AH Freemantle funeral directors in Titchfield.
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