The College Record 2022

characteristics of John’s personality. He was a frequent volunteer, from many blood
donations to helping to organise the annual Cheltenham Beer Festival, visiting local
beer and cider producers to help transport their contributions; and he was proud to
have helped at the 2012 London Olympics, operating one of the venue scoreboards.
Wherever he went, John always dressed in the same way: a T-shirt (or two if it was
cold), chinos, and walking sandals. He carried a small rucksack that contained a
copy of The Guardian and a pen (for the cryptic crossword), appropriate refreshments
for everyone, and whatever unusual gifts he had brought. He had a mischievous
sense of humour, delighting in puns and wordplay and gently ribbing his friends
(a bottleneck of Spanish teenagers from Bilbao getting off a train carriage at Oxford
prompted the memorable “You shouldn’t put all your Basques in one exit”: there were
many more!). Escapades at Queen’s included participating in a nine-hour marathon
punt to Islip (alcohol was involved, allegedly), taking up residence on the balcony
of The Chequers during the (examination-free) Trinity Term of 1975, and excelling at
bar billiards in the JCR and various public house venues. He had a healthy disregard
for pomposity, and wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power; but there was always a
consideration for others, and a willingness to engage and converse with a complete
lack of edge or vanity.
Obituaries
We shall miss his company, his wit, and his kindness.
Compiled by John’s friends and colleagues, from his school, Queen’s, Ferranti,
and GCHQ.
Credit: John Cairns
College Record 2022 | The Queen’s College 123