Hello John,
Happy Birthday! Congratulations on attaining three score years and ten. Not at the apex yet though, you are only three quarters of the way up the hill - the steepest trudge has yet to come. It would be wonderful to rewind the clock but life is rarely so accommodating and the grandfather clock relentlessly ticks on - it is onwards and upwards. Hey ho!... Do you remember the day when you and Keith came to collect me from Cherrywood Lane in your two seater Triumph Spitfire. Well, there was no room for me in the bucket seats so I precariously perched on the framework of the car behind the seats and we shot off oblivious of the danger - how many penalty points would that incur on your licence today? Or the time when we came to visit you in France and to celebrate your birthday we had arranged to dine at a restaurant and I volunteered to drive thus enabling you to imbibe. After an enjoyable evening at the exclusive restaurant - the profiteroles were delicious - we set off on our return journey to Puechcourt and it was you who suggested that "Lights would help." "Oh, yes," said I. "Right" you uttered. "No, we do not turn right here" said I. "Yes, right" you reiterated. "No, we do not turn right here" I exclaimed. "Right, drive on the right you bloody silly woman!!".... 
Remember the one and only World Cup when you came to watch the matches with us on our small 12" second hand black and white television. We had a chart, in the design of a dart-board, on the wall which depicted the progress of each team in the competition. Each team's progress was marked with their national flag. Eventually the flag of St. George was placed with pride on the bull's-eye together with the German flag. The atmosphere was electric and the tension unbearable. An unforgettable day. Then there were those pleasant balmy summer days of yesteryear when feeling very energetic we opted to play two rounds of putting on the lawn at 151 before lunch. Hey ho!... As Keith has mentioned you have a very generous nature and this is best illustrated when shortly after the birth of Andrew, Keith walked into the Ward with a wonderful basket of red roses. "Oh, thank you, they're beautiful" said I to which he replied "Yes they are, but they are not from me - they're from John!" On one of your family holidays you and Ingrid kindly invited Caroline to accompany you all on an unforgettable visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was a wonderful experience for Caroline and one that she still refers to with much pleasure.... We have visited almost every one of your many homes when dogs are always present and sometimes an assortment of donkeys, hens and geese. However, now that you are in Puechcourt we do so miss receiving your frequent invitations to share a hearty lunch accompanied by fine wine, which is usually followed by a walk in the woods with the dogs before returning for that quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea. Hey ho!... Your support and friendship have always been much appreciated and this applied particularly when Keith was away on his overseas sojourns. It was a wonderful surprise to see you at our Ruby Wedding celebration, for which you both entailed a long tedious drive and a Channel crossing plus an overnight stay in a Tonbridge hotel - thank you again for all your thoughtfulness both then and in the past. So many memories abound and these are but a few. To me you are and always will be my elder brother. Enjoy your special day. Yours ever, ever yours,”
Remember the one and only World Cup when you came to watch the matches with us on our small 12" second hand black and white television. We had a chart, in the design of a dart-board, on the wall which depicted the progress of each team in the competition. Each team's progress was marked with their national flag. Eventually the flag of St. George was placed with pride on the bull's-eye together with the German flag. The atmosphere was electric and the tension unbearable. An unforgettable day. Then there were those pleasant balmy summer days of yesteryear when feeling very energetic we opted to play two rounds of putting on the lawn at 151 before lunch. Hey ho!... As Keith has mentioned you have a very generous nature and this is best illustrated when shortly after the birth of Andrew, Keith walked into the Ward with a wonderful basket of red roses. "Oh, thank you, they're beautiful" said I to which he replied "Yes they are, but they are not from me - they're from John!" On one of your family holidays you and Ingrid kindly invited Caroline to accompany you all on an unforgettable visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. It was a wonderful experience for Caroline and one that she still refers to with much pleasure.... We have visited almost every one of your many homes when dogs are always present and sometimes an assortment of donkeys, hens and geese. However, now that you are in Puechcourt we do so miss receiving your frequent invitations to share a hearty lunch accompanied by fine wine, which is usually followed by a walk in the woods with the dogs before returning for that quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea. Hey ho!... Your support and friendship have always been much appreciated and this applied particularly when Keith was away on his overseas sojourns. It was a wonderful surprise to see you at our Ruby Wedding celebration, for which you both entailed a long tedious drive and a Channel crossing plus an overnight stay in a Tonbridge hotel - thank you again for all your thoughtfulness both then and in the past. So many memories abound and these are but a few. To me you are and always will be my elder brother. Enjoy your special day. Yours ever, ever yours,”- 5773
“It is true to say that I have known you, John, for over 40 years which cover my teenage years and my memories of you as a gangly young man. Suffice it to say that we have known each other for an awfully long time… You have always been the most reliable relative that any one can wish to have. Your patience and immense generosity are legendary. You are a great believer in being scrupulously true to your word. With John it is rarely the words that count, though he can always find the mot juste. What is more worthy of note are his actions which show that nothing is ever too much to ask and he will provide it, even before a word is spoken. We have a shared love of cars and I admire your choice of cars and your driving and I always come to you for advice on photography. My earliest recollections were the wonderful black and white pictures you took in Paris in the early 60s. The best family pictures of my children when they were little are yours. Since moving to France, John has schlepped my suitcases from airport or town and wined and dined me lavishly, whenever I happened to drop by. It is an art to make one feel welcomed and appreciated whatever the circumstances. Truly a remarkable relative and friend. May you enjoy many more decades of good living in la belle France. With much love,”
- Eira
“John is far and away my favorite brother-in-law and I know my children's favorite uncle, not to mention Benjamin's favorite great-uncle. For years now, on my many visits to Puechcourt, I have been the recipient of John's unfailing kindness and generosity. Apart from the many invitations to lovely restaurants, there is always a bottle of red wine awaiting me at supper and a few stashed into my basket to carry home; uncomplaining frequent “taxi” service to and from the airport and even, (knowing my yellowness regarding speed) a gentler foot on the accelerator of his ever more comfortable, beautiful and luxurious cars. Now for his humour... ever the bon mot and the gentle teasing which is a highlight of my visits. Talking to Ingrid on the phone she relays his “mes hommages Madame” and constant communications by way of the little blackboard in the kitchen. For example: “Welcome, Nana, how long are you staying?” and, (on my response that I’m leaving on Sunday), "as long as that"? or "Gawd, not you again" and so on. One of his classics, as we were walking in the wood at Puechcourt, I remarked on the Periwinkle growing underfoot (botanical name Vinca) and said "I have Variegated Vinca at home," to which John replied “Oh dear, have you seen your doctor about it?” There are many many more such comments but my memory serves me ill now, so there we are... apart from the rich expletives which usually occur when he has forgotten something or one of his many gadgets doesn't work!”
- Nana
