Derek & I were blessed to live with John briefly, just before he met and fell in love with Penny.
What a privilege it was to have a front-row seat to their love story. How brave they both were to trust their hearts and jump into love at jet speed and, on reflection, how wise they both were to do so.
During our time living together, we introduced John to the late, great Steve Irwin, the joys of Test cricket and, most importantly, helped him to stop doing an Australian accent.
In turn, he drove us to away games to watch our beloved Aston Villa.
One of my favourite memories of John is when a service station attendant asked if he was off to watch Aston Villa play Blackburn when he was filling up. John asked if the guy had picked up his accent.
By all accounts, the guy looked at him like a idiot and pointed to the game tickets protruding from his top pocket.
John couldn’t wait to relate the story to us when he returned to the car, and he laughed so hard at himself. That was such a lovely thing about John.
We wish for so much more for John, and so much more time with him, but oh, what fun and mutual fondness we had.
We miss you, dear friend.
Love,
Mel & Decca in Australia
Mel & Decca
18/09/2026
