hazel Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I would like to talk to you about my brother John…… John was no angel in life so I suppose he will be no angel in death. Not for John the higher accolades of after life just John being John. He never did get promotion, even in the Army-- he served for 12 yrs going in as a gunner and I think coming out with the same status. he must have been the most highly educated Gunner there was. I would have thought that this lack of rank wasn’t an easy achievement ,even for John,, but nothing John did was easy. Just John being John. I remember John as a child always asking questions non stop, his thin legs in big boots bought for him by Great Uncle Johnny, his hair combed and wet down always sticking up at the back. John was a clever child His infant teacher of that time saying-- John could be Prime Minister of England if John wanted to. I took him to school and he knew the way better than me and he being 4/ 5 yrs younger, I saw him off on the train when he joined the army at 18 without our Mom and Dad knowing and I had to explain, why there was no John at home when they returned from holiday. I made sure he got to his wedding to Pat on time, taking the pins out of his new shirt in the back of the car as we sped to town for the ceremony. I went to visit him in Anglesey when his son Paul was born, where he was in charge of tracking the latest defence weapon of the army, it was called the Blue Streak and never seemed to work, . Was it just John being John ?. He turned up on my doorstep all the way from Algeria with his second son Colin in his arms and 2 nappies-- nothing else. I have followed him through life trying to put the pieces together when his life kept falling apart--as John being John--- it often did... His lifestyle taking it’s toll, he would arrive on my doorstep again and again ---- just John being John To my sons he was a hero coming to see them bearing gifts, arrow heads, fossils found in far off places, He worked hard he played hard. To me he was my brother---- just John being John, I will miss him. hazel John wrote on S. Forum as Sheffco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeP Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Well written, Hazel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiesh Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I remember you posting on another thread at the time of his passing where you posted a link to his website which family were maintaining ..but sadly the link didn't work! I can't find it now but I'm sure many of the earlier members of the Sheffield Forum will remember him as he was a regular poster in the early days. My deepest sympathies to you, your family and his friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joto Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 So sorry about your brother hazel, that is a lovely tribute to him you've written. What a lovely big sister he must have had in you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jossman Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 What a beautiful sentiment. He must have meant a lot to you Hazel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShinyPurple Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 My condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenC Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 A beautiful tribute to your brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utah Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Ahh Hazel, thats lovely, made me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemima Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 A lovely tribute Hazel. RIP John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazel Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 Thank you for your replies, your sympathy, your empathy. John took a lot of stick on the forum, very often deserved. He was a seismic engineer-- which seems quite fitting that I should print this today, the morning of the earthquake,-- Was it John just being John ---and had worked in all the places he spoke about, his dependancy on whiskey finally catching up with him, he died at few weeks ago. hazel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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