John had an enormous range of musical interests:

I’d known John since the early 1970s, having first I met him the at the Folk Tradition club, which was held in the Nova Scotia pub, Hotwells, Bristol. In addition to being a regular performer there, John was on the club committee, and he also took a turn with hosting on club nights.

As already noted, John was a member of the psychedelic folk rock band: ”Elecampagne” which (if I remember correctly) was active in the 1970s and 1980s.

Again, as already noted, John was a leading member of the “Called to be Saints” West Gallery Choir.

https://blagdon.org/things-to-do/groups/called-to-be-saints/

John was a member of the Bristol Shantymen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StF_cxqSRyg

John was a leading member of the folk song and music group: “The Hotwells Howlers”

https://www.thehotwellshowlers.com/


John also played in a duo with Alan Kirkpatrick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzFwz9Ozn3M


In 1989, John joined our ceilidh band (then called “Rumpus”, now called “Jig Mad Wolf”). Initially, John played guitar in the band, but later switched to playing bass guitar.

https://jigmadwolf.co.uk

On account of Covid, Jig Mad Wolf hasn’t played since January 2020 - John played with us at this last gig.

Not only will John be greatly missed by family and friends, but also by the folk world in general. We will of course miss him in Jig Mad Wolf. Ceilidhs usually include an interval for refreshments – primarily for the dancers, but also for the band and caller. Events are sometimes over-catered for, and sometimes there would be calls to come back for second or even third helpings. John always responded to offers of more food! Did he have hollow legs we wondered?

My lasting memory of John is seeing him playing his bass guitar with gusto, acting out his inner rock musician, to the tune of Soldier’s Joy.

- Roger