My earliest memories of John were when he would jet over from NZ to visit us with the family, and always bring something interesting to eat from the USA. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend a lot of quality time with John and Jane when we first moved to New Zealand. We often have "John and Jane" dinners now on a Saturday - Sausage, egg and beans - a tradition of theirs which we will continue. John had a big heart and went out of his way to make sure we were well looked after, and were doing OK as we looked for somewhere to live and work in New Zealand. He was always keen to keep up to date with family matters. John was a keen fisherman and we often swapped notes, he taught me a couple of his go-to knots and went Salmon fishing together. We didn't catch anything, but did sample some very nice fish of his from time to time. I shall miss our email updates and conversations with him on the phone. Our thoughts are with Jane and the family. With love, Jason & Elle

John was my uncle. He and I had quite a good rapport, despite us living on opposite sides of the world for more than half his life and the majority of mine! Pete and I are lucky in that we have visited NZ on several occasions and have been able to get to know our NZ family. John and Jane came to England quite a few times, the last trip included my Mum’s (John’s sister, Anne) 80th birthday. We managed to keep it a secret from my mother and John, Jane and Andrew surprised her at Cherwell Boathouse, Oxford. In her usual fashion, it took our mother a few minutes to realise that it was her dear brother, sister in law and nephew who had joined her at the table! I have happy memories of John and Giselle coming to visit us when Giselle and I were 16. Dearly me! That’s 50 years ago! I read Jenny’s tribute to John and it reminded me how much John liked his ice cream, especially hokey pokey! We saw John and the family earlier this year. Sadly, John was by then getting very frail, being expertly cared for by his devoted wife and the staff at Alpine. Unfortunately, circumstances meant that John had to move to a rest home. We were able to visit him twice there. This was the last time we saw him. John had taken himself off in his usual manner, omitting to tell anyone where he was! We went looking for him in the cemetery nearby, but were unable to find him. We went back to his room and eventually he turned up. We chatted with him and he delighted in eating a delicious looking cake, which the kind staff had left him, with his by now cold cup of tea! This is my last image of him. Our thoughts are with Aunty Jane, Andrew, Giselle, Brian and the rest of our dear family. Rest in peace dear Uncle. With love, Karen, Peter, Jenny, Alison and Isobelle xx

I'm sorry to say I didn't know my Uncle John very well, and to be honest, I was a bit scared of him when I was a child! - but our mother, his sister Anne, adored him and she loved to tell us the tales of him taking her out on his motorbike, of them swimming in the river at Eynsham, and them dressing up for the village carnival. I haven't been to New Zealand as yet, but on their visits to England I remember several punting trips on the river, with our mother having hysterics when she nearly fell in - happy times they had! With much love to Aunty Jane and all our dear cousins, Broni & David & family xxxx

Happy memories of 60 plus years ago swimming in South Devon beaches and the thing about John you could guarantee there would be ice creams! His many skills including building his own boat Dabchick the third which had my own special seat love from Jenny