~ Midi Playing:  Against All Odds ~

~ Remembering John's Life ~

~ John and Joyce's Life ~

15/12/1916 ~ John was born in Rowhedge.

21/10/1918 ~ Joyce was born at Frances Cottages, Little Tey.

1930 ~ John and Joyce attended the same secondary school and vaguely knew one another.

1939-1945 ~ John was a private in the 8th Army and was in the 'Desert Rats' Regiment. He fought for our Country in one War.

John was wounded in the leg by a 'sniper' just after 'El Alamein' and recuperated in Palestine before landing in Taranto, 'Italy', for the Italian Campaign.

John walked all the way to the 'Hartz Mountains' in Germany where he was 'demobbed'. John ended his Army Service' as a 'Sergeant'.

1939 ~ Joyce was a Nurse in WW11 at Birkenhead in Liverpool.

1940 ~ Joyce completed her SRN (Mental Nurse) Training and spent most of her time at 'Severalls Hospital' at Mile End in Colchester.

1942 ~ Joyce gave birth to her Daughter Betty at Birkenhead in Liverpool.

1943 ~ Joyce gave birth to her Son Richard in Colchester.

1945 ~ John joined the Fire Brigade. He was a Colchester Fireman based at the bypass on Cowdray Avenue. He used to drive the appliances, use the turnable ladders and latterly the Hydraulic Lift.

He used to practice with the 'scaling ladders' and used to climb up the outside of the Tower Block at the back of the Station and carry other Fireman down the ladders. You needed to be very fit.

1963 ~ John and Joyce teamed up with one another.

12/03/1965 ~ John and Joyce married in the Register Office in Colchester.

1970 ~ John completed his first 'Oil Painting'.

1972 ~ John left the Fire Brigade at aged 55.

He served 27 years in the Fire Brigade.

1990 ~ John completed his last 'Oil Paintings'. They are out of this world!

08/03/01 ~ Joyce sadly passed away.

04/01/04 ~ John sadly passed away.

From a very young age John started collecting Stamps. Joyce was very good at making Soft Toys and all Handicrafts.

Joyce acted as a 'Nanny' to two young boys until they went to Junior School and she also worked at 'Alderman Blaxhill School' as a Lunchtime Welfare Assistant.

Both John and Joyce especially enjoyed going on many holidays around Great Britain, including staying at Universities such as 'Durham and Dundee'.

Not only was John an avid Stamp Collector and fabulous artist, he was an excellent Gardener.

The above Photo was taken during the WWII, as John was serving in the Fire Service.

(John is pictured on the Far Right, Back Row)

~ Taken from the Photo Above ~

~ A Firemans Prayer ~

When I am called to Duty, God,
Wherever flames may rage
Give me the strength to save some life,
Whatever be it’s age.

Help me embrace a little child,
Before it is too late
Or save an older person from,
The horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and
Hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently,
To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me,
To guard my neighbor,
And protect their property.

And if according to your will,
I have to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand,
My children and my wife.

~ Playing Table Tennis in his Fire Service Days ~

~ John in his 'Army Day's' with 4 of his Colleagues ~

~ John with another 2 of his Army Colleagues ~