Then there was his successful lecturing hobby: from the 1960’s through to, well, only the other week, in fact. Equipped with the latest technology of the era – from slide reels through to cine-film then a laptop and projector - he presented hundreds of talks on the various subjects in which he had specialist knowledge to impart. His subjects were varied taking in his interest in Inland Waterways and of course his sea voyages as well as local topics, such as Abington Park. Some of them were merely informative; others were campaigning, as for the IWA. All were said to be interesting and entertaining. Even with the encroachment of his final illness, when Jean had to attend to help carry John’s equipment, his humour did not desert him: when the lights were downed before a talk would commence he would assure “any ladies present” that they were “perfectly safe, because my wife is with me”.