1939-2020
Ben and Sue Reid
When we first came to live in Belbroughton at The Old Rectory in Dec 2003, John and Pat were the very first people we met. We were invited to their special Boxing Day Buffet of family and friends and this is were the friendship began and continued. John was the epitome of a true gentleman and will be very sadly missed. Our thoughts are with you Pat, Clare and Tom at this difficult time. X X
Brian and Pam
All John’s friends will remember him as an empathetic, gentle man; erudite too, he could explain the mysteries of the church, aeronautics, brewing and its industry, and even algorithms.
Tuesday lunchtimes will not be the same again.
Time like an ever rolling stream—
Marge and Mark
A contented pose after good company, good food, and a fair share of imbibing no doubt. Lots of love and thanks John for all the wonderful good times.
Dad always had a fascination with aircraft and some of my happiest memories of dad are from air shows and events.
I wasn’t always a fan of the roar of a jet engine – something dad was used to from his time in the RAF working on Lightnings. Over time I grew to share his love of feeling the rumble of a fighter soaring into the sky, or marvelling at the skill and daring of pilots flinging their aircraft around at their limits!
As a keen photographer he would always be armed with a camera, a long lens and a big smile. We’d usually not be too far from a beer and an extortionate pork bap too.
Dad was also adept behind the controls of an aircraft – gaining his pilots license before his driving license! Though he didn’t get in the cockpit regularly, he remembered enough to impress the pilot who took him up for a flight in a tiger moth for his 70th birthday.
When I was lucky enough to win a day at the Fleet Air Arm at Yeovilton (including a play in their soon to be decommissioned lynx helicopter flight simulator) there was only one person I wanted to share the day with. We had a fabulous day, with dad sharing stories with the engineers and pilots we met and when it came to taking the helicopter for a spin he made it look effortless, while I made a mess of the deck of a shiny new aircraft carrier!
Dad’s declining mobility proved no obstacle to the last air show we enjoyed together in 2018 – with the crowds parting to let a camera toting John Westley on his nippy mobility scooter get a front row seat at Farnborough.
Fly high dad!
