JOHN ROSS – IN MEMORIAM

For the many friends and acquaintances of John Ross who have witnessed his ailing health over the last six months, it was really little surprise to hear that John finally left us early last week. That inevitability, made it no less sad an event and the Canary Club will be a poorer place without him for sure. As for the sales of John Smiths, well the Tadcaster brewery flag has been flying at half-mast this week.

John has been using the Club for the last 40 years or more, from the days when it was a hall with a bar in it, outside toilets and not a great deal more. In the intervening decades, if those walls could speak they would tell some tales. In truth John’s familiarity with the walls was probably second to none, he having been responsible over the years for the application of more coats of Rossco Magnolia Silk Vinyl than any other painter in the Home Counties.

So, what were John’s passions? Well, clearly he didn’t mind the occasional glass of beer and I am sure his family will forgive me for saying that he was a bit of a ladies’ man on the side. That said he was a man who would do anything for his children, of whom there were a number from more than one marriage. Laura, Ryan, Lillian, Glen and Adam were all in attendance at the end and their support in John’s last moments was an indicator of how much he meant to them all.

As for football – John was a Newcastle Utd Supporter. His dad Eddie, being a son of the North East. Eddie was also a regular at the Club and proved his lineage by insisting that we stocked Newcastle Brown Ale and muttering away in an accent reminiscent of Gazza on a bad day.

John did watch Hitchin, but selectively, favouring the away games at places like Lowestoft and Weymouth or the great FA Cup away days which were enjoyed to the full whatever (or should I say despite) the football. Who can forget the story of the first Swindon Replay back in the day which was abandoned because of fog. John somehow missed the return coach (he may have been in the bar?) and had to get a taxi to pursue it back up the M4. He was eventually reunited with the transport near Reading.

I can’t remember too much about John’s playing career, but if football wasn’t his forte he did reckon himself as a bowler. That apart it was indoor sports that John excelled at. The attached picture includes some familiar faces from one of the successful early 1980s darts teams. Many of those team-mates are still on the scene, albeit greyer and sadly some are no longer with us. Dominoes and Cribbage continued to occupy John until a few years back when finally the local leagues folded through a combination of lack of teams and covid. Too few youngsters playing these days it seems.

John will doubtless now be resurrecting an old argument with Tony Huckle about crib tactics or team selection and “H” (now there is the pot calling the kettle black) will be muttering “That man drinks too much you know”. Alongside them both will be Alan Sexton trying to organise the next away weekend at Cirencester.

I have enjoyed your company over the last 40 odd years John – give us a quick pout for old times.

Cheers

MICK