John was born on 24 July 1924. His early life was spent in Folkestone where his father, a Latin scholar, endowed him with a love of classics that was to lead him to Durham University.

However, the Second World War intervened and John entered the RAF, initially training Tiger Moth pilots in Canada before returning to the UK to fly Lancaster bombers. After hostilities ceased he was moved to Transport Command where he flew Dakotas between India and London.

After leaving the RAF he decided to train as a dentist at the London Hospital. He then started a two-year associate position at a surgery in Ryde, Isle of Wight, from where he joined a five-man dental partnership in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. He was to remain there for almost 40 years.

John's energy and talents allowed him to combine his partnership in the Tunbridge Wells practice with a part time dental clinic at 83 Harley Street. He also made outstanding contributions as both the chairman of the Dentist and General Society and secretary of the Tunbridge Wells section of the BDA.

Retiring from dentistry at the beginning of the 1990s, the early years of John's retirement were spent with his wife Alison in Tunbridge Wells and at their holiday home in Suffolk. More recently John and Alison moved to Devon to be closer to their family. He died on 29 August 2012 at the age of 88.

John's friend of 60 years and former dental partner, Peter Kershaw, describes an intelligent and caring man; 'having greatly enjoyed working with John on the Isle of Wight, I was delighted that we were able to maintain that relationship over such a long period in Tunbridge Wells. John was the ideal dentist; he combined superb technical skills with an ability to build excellent and long standing relationships with his patients and colleagues. He was always happy to provide thoughtful advice to both partners and staff and the surgery's long term stability and success was a testament to his ability to get on with all those around him. In partnership meetings, his counsel was always invaluable and his contributions to the wider dental community were both highly regarded and hugely appreciated. But more than any of this, John was a wonderful friend.'