John was well-respected and loved amongst the New Mills staff. He was known for his commitment to high standards, excellent achievement and thorough hard work; he lived by example and no one could be more conscientious than him. He had a wonderful smile and sense of humour, he was an eccentric Man United fan, a great companion, an empathetic critic and a loyal supporter. He joined the school in the ‘70s and created a formidable Humanities department with matching results because he was able to inspire staff and students. His unique knowledge and understanding of staff, students and his subject was a winning combination as was his leadership and management: many staff benefited and matured under his expert guidance.