I'm sorry to say that this sad news had escaped me until yesterday when an obituary by The Wilsons appeared in the new issue of Folk NorthWest magazine. I'd known John on a fairly casual basis for over 25 years, by seeing him at such Festivals as Maghull Day Of Music and Four Fools up here in my neck of the woods. I was shocked and had no idea that he'd even been ill.
As a Club Organiser of fairly recent vintage I had the greatest respect for John and his efforts, perseverance and dedication over the decades. A gentleman with a warm, never-malicious sense of good humour, I don't think they make them like him any longer.