John would always attend our South African Collectors' Society meetings and would definitely be one our stalwarts at Leamington Spa and latterly at Meriden, always making the effort, even when his knees gave him trouble. He would bring wonderful items along, always taking time to explain their significance to those of us not as expert as he was. John would also encourage others and regale you with tales from years back with his fabulous recall of purchases or items he had missed out on as a younger man. It became a tradition that he would tell a joke after our presentations, a joke always on the respectable side of risque. He made us all laugh and he'd often have me in stitches. He was fun to be around and will be much missed.