John Thomas Blackwell was born 13 December 1931, he was a loving husband to Joan, caring dad to Mark and Sandra, daughter in-law to Sonya, father in-law to Andrew, grandfather to Samantha, Scott, James and Chris, and great grandfather to Ella and Darcie, everyone in the family called him  ‘Paps’.
Most of John’s childhood was spent in Jericho Oxford, with a couple of years in Banbury before returning to Jericho. Today Jericho has become a desirable area for young professional people, but in the 1930’s and 1940’s Jericho was often said to be the slum area of Oxford.
The people who lived in Jericho were special, it was a close knit community, and everyone looked out for each other, it was like having extended families. John made many close friends during his childhood, and often said “they were more like brothers than friends”, their friendships would last a lifetime.
As a child John attended St. Barnabas School, he enjoyed playing football in the streets and spending endless hours at the local rec. Home time was when the gas lights were lit by the lamplighter. As a child John liked fishing at the weekends and continued to enjoy fishing into his 30’s.In his twenties John found a passion for motor bikes, owning a Douglas 350 twin and his pride of joy a Norton Dominator 500 single. In the winter of 1954, John and his pillion passenger Pete Steadman were riding on his Norton to a dance in Long Hanborough, when they came close to sustaining serious injuries. They were travelling through Bladon, when John needed to brake hard to avoid an oncoming car taking up all the road. This happened on the only patch of ice on the entire road. They both left the bike in different directions, they both got up not knowing if the other one was still alive, and were so pleased to see the other one standing after the accident. To this day they were both amazed they never sustained any serious injuries. The much loved Norton was damaged and un-ridable, but in true Jericho spirit John leaned the Norton against the wall, they brushed themselves off and continued on foot to the dance, very sore and bruised. The fact there clothes were torn and ripped didn’t stop them having a good night, after a few beers they were soon on the dance floor with the local girls.
While still living in Jericho John’s parents persuaded him to sell his motor bike and buy a car,  John brought a new Ford Prefect, it was the envy of his mates and many of the residents,  cars were very expensive in those days in relation to wages. Like his Norton before, the car became his pride and joy, little did he know the Ford Prefect was to play a part in meeting his future wife Joan.
John often said “he was very fortunate to be fully employed through his working life”. He left school at fourteen and was taken on as an apprentice joiner with W.R. Allen, attending technical school in the evenings. When Allen’s closed he moved to Benfield and Loxley, and was part of a team who manufactured and fitted out all the joinery in the newly build Nuffield College in Oxford. During his time at Benfield’s John worked at numerous Oxford colleges and churches producing high quality joinery. Much of this is still in place today and comforting his legacy lives on. Like many other tradesmen John started work at Morris Motors in 1959 almost doubling his wages, initially working on the Mini assembly line prior to its launch, then on the 1100/1300, Marina and Maxi assembly lines. Finally working in the ‘Reject Building’, where cars would come that failed inspection or have missing parts fitted. In the early 1970’s Mike Taylor an old friend persuaded John to return back to the building trade as a Foreman Joiner, at C.B. Bomford Ltd in Abingdon, In 1980 he returned to work at Oxford University, firstly in the Surveyors Office as a Carpenter and Joiner, before transferring to the Plant Science Department as a technician, a post he held until his retirement at the age of 65 Sport played a major part of John’s early years, playing football for YMCA and Gas Sports. He played tennis for College Servants and Morris Motors, and he was known for having a powerful first serve. Table Tennis became his passion, he played for YMCA, Morris Motors, Gladiators and Viking Sports. For a number of years John played in the county A league, before dropping down to the B and C leagues, he played well into his 50’s before finally putting his bat away.
John met his wife Joan by chance, Joan’s friend and work colleague Win played darts for the Lord Napier Public House in Jericho and invited Joan along to watch a game she was playing in the evening. Unfortunately, the pair lost all track of time and Joan missed the last bus home. Win then announced to all in the pub, “Joan has missed the last bus which one of you guys are going take her home”. Up steps John and said “I’ll take her”, they walked round to the garage where John kept his Ford Prefect and drove Joan back to Cowley. They were soon dating, and in the weeks and months that followed, they travelled around Oxfordshire for Aunt Sally matches, or dances at the weekend with the rest of John’s Friends. In those days it was Ballroom, Latin American and Jive dancing. John and Joan never lost the love of Ballroom dancing and Jive and would return to the dance floor throughout their married life.
One evening while they were still dating, they were returning from a trip out with friends When John’s mate Jack said “I’ll drive us home tonight John”. John was in the passenger seat with Joan sat on his lap, on the back seat there were four of five of his friends. On their way back to Oxford someone in the car said “just follow that moth Jack”, well he did driving John’s car up a grass verge. Most escaped with bruises, but Joan cut her knee, and was worried how she was going to explain this to her Mum and Dad when she got home. Amazingly John’s pride and joy, the Ford Prefect wasn’t damaged.
John and Joan were married on 26 March, 1960. They moved into their first house in Edgeway Road, Marston early 1961 ready for the birth of their Son Mark on 3 August 1961, their daughter Sandra was born a few years later on 21 February 1969. They lived in Edgeway Road for well over 25 years, before moving to Crotch Crescent in Marston, then to Bicester on retirement to live near Mark and Sandra.
John always ensured the family went on a two week holiday in the summer every year. In the early years they stayed at Butlin’s Holiday camps. Then moved from the ‘redcoats’ to the ‘bluecoats’ staying at Pontin’s Holiday Camps. John would regularly win the table tennis tournament, and be invited back for a free holiday to play in the grand final later in the year..
In the early 1970’s the family took the plunge and went on its first package holiday to Spain. It proved to be their only trip abroad for many years. Everything was going well, they boarded the ‘Danair’ plane and took off smoothly, one hour into the flight they hit very bad turbulence, Once the plane had stabilised Joan tried to light a cigarette, she was shaking so much she could not light it. Two young lads sitting in front of her leant over the seat and lit the cigarette for her, she finished the whole packet before plane landed. The hotel and sun was good, but were totally unprepared for the Spanish food and Spanish Belly! It was many years before John could persuade Joan to step on a plane again.
The following year John decided to buy a little touring caravan, he towed this behind his black 1100 countryman. Their first trip out with the caravan was nearly their last, they were going down a hill near East Ilsley and the Ridgeway on the A34, when a gust of wind caught the caravan and sent the car and caravan in an uncontrollable snake. The caravan was on one wheel then the other, the car was being pulled all over the road, due to the snaking they were now taking over both lanes of the duel carriageway. How John got control back of the car and caravan they will never know
When Mark and Sandra left home John persuaded Joan to get back on a plane and they holidayed for a few years in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
In their later years they returned to caravanning, not towing this time! They owned static caravans at Naish Holiday Park near Christchurch on the south coast and spent many weeks during their retirement enjoying their seaside retreat.
During their retirement John and Joan went on two cruises, one around the Mediterranean and the other around Canary Islands, and also went on numerous coach tours abroad before calling an end to their foreign travel.
In recent years, UK coach tours were the order of the day, John and Joan really enjoyed these tours especially the socialising side of the tour, and learning about the areas they were visiting.
John with Joan have always been keen gardeners, and John also had an allotment when they lived in Edgeway Road. The family always joked with John, Saying “Joan was the Head Gardener and John was the Assistant Gardener”. But John would never let Joan touch his roses these where renowned for giving a good display year after year, Joan was also not allowed in the green house while John was growing his tomatoes in the summer.
When they moved to Bicester John and Joan joined the local social club and were regulars attendees of the weekly bingo session. Whenever John called for a line or full house he always shouted out ‘Hold It, Hold It’ everyone knew who had won!
Christmas has always been an important family date in the calendar for as long as Mark and Sandra can remember. Dinner together, then sit down to watch the Queen’s speech, and play cards either Newmarket, Nap or Pontoon late into the evening. John’s famous call when taking the bank for Pontoon in his later years was ‘No Limit, No Limit’. Even though John had been unwell before this Christmas, he did perk up for Christmas Day and played Pontoon for a couple of hours and even took the bank.
It was John and Joan’s Diamond Wedding on 26 March this year, because of ‘Covid’ and ‘lock down’ they were unable to celebrate with the family. This was a very difficult time for everyone, not being able to hug the ones you love. But thankfully those who lived nearby were able to walk to their bungalow as part of their outside exercise, and celebrated on the door step at a two metre distance, that was strange and hard times for John and Joan.
John has always been a figure head of the family, and they will miss his love, advice, opinion and strange humour.
He kindly wrote a few notes when he was able about his employment and sports he enjoyed. The final words he wrote will be very special to all of us here today.
He wrote: “Good Bye, Love You All’.