John was born in Bamburgh, Northumberland in 1932 and grew up in the borders town of Coldstream. He went on to Sedbergh from St Mary’s prep school in Melrose. After a career in printing and publishing that took him to East Anglia and then London he retired in 1996 back to Northumberland.
He was a member of the 1525 Society and wore his society tie with pride at social events.
He leaves his wife, Jancis and three sons, Charles, William and Edward.