John was an airline pilot by profession. He was described by Bob Naish who proposed him for the position of Mayor, as being an impartial man but a strict disciplinarian. He placed an importance on keeping community spirit alive and wished to serve the people and not politics.
John married Janet M. Forbes-Simpson in 1963 at Watford and they moved to 6, South Drive, Wokingham in 1970. They had two sons.
In his first speech as Mayor, he emphasized that he would turn the spotlight on youth as they were the people of the future. His wife, Janet was his Mayoress.
In April 1981 he resigned from the council a day after his term as Deputy Mayor had ended on the grounds that he was finding it increasingly difficult to attend committee meetings because of changes in his professional life.
John and Janet moved from Wokingham in 1983 and John died in Andover in August 2004.
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0129