I've only just discovered this sad news. John was a larger than life character,
who encouraged people in their modelling endeavours, and could often be seen demonstrating various techniques at shows. As many will know, John could often lose his temper, I had some blazing rows with him, but give it 20 minutes, all was forgiven, and everyone was mates
again down the pub.
Back in the 1990s, I remember an ill-fated trip with John, by train to the NEC. On arrival,
John decided he needed some cash, so he popped his card into an ATM on the concourse. No sooner had he done this, and there was a power cut, power returned after 20 seconds, but that was enough for the ATM to go into fail-safe mode, and poor John's card stayed in the machine for the weekend. He went ballistic, and started marching around, remonstrating with all the staff of the various shops and kiosks, but of course it wasn't their fault. (I was busy biting the inside of my cheeks, so as not to laugh). When he had cooled down, I lent him the money (using the same ATM, to add insult to injury). As expected, his card was posted back to him, a few days later.
John's gruff, then jolly, manner probably came from working on building sites, he was
a bricklayer by profession, he was also a stickler for time-keeping, again probably from having to turn out for contractors. John will be missed at the shows, from now on they will be emptier (and quieter) places. R.I.P. John.
Brian Kirby.