From the '80s until Lockdown, John and I would travel into London, and beyond, to visit art galleries and museums. In the early years, we were often accompanied by mutual friends, most of whom had at some time worked for Harrow's Land Registry, which is how I got to know John, though I had never worked there.

John became one of my most valued companions in sharing things creative and cultural. Quiet, modest, undemonstrative, he, nonetheless, expressed forthright views on what he liked and disliked, though he was keen to learn about all types and styles of art during innumerable trips to exhibitions. Afterwards we'd invariably discuss what we'd seen over a meal in a pub. 

One of the drawbacks of travelling to touristy parts of central London is being accosted by beggars. Having volunteered for many years with Crisis at Christmas, I'm sympathetic to London's rough sleepers but reluctant to give them money which I fear might feed a drug, smoking or alcohol problem. I felt a little guilty especially when someone sitting in a doorway recognised me and called out "see you next Christmas!". John had a kind, generous but practical solution. He would take printed paper tokens with him, issued by a Christian charity, which homeless people could exchange for a meal and nonalcoholic drinks at certain cafes and restaurants. (PS: this was long before the now well-known BillyChip meal ticket scheme, the brainchild of a Bristolian ambulance driver, Billy Abernethy-Hope, set up in 2018).