John Sudbury (25 Jul 1948 - 8 Jan 2025)

In loving memory of John Sudbury who sadly passed away on 8th January 2025
My dearest John is now at peace after a difficult few years suffering from Alzhiemers Dementia that slowly took away the happy, adventurous, intelligent John I have know for 42 years.
Together we had a life of fun, travel, adventures throughout the world and from his early life his love of aviation led him firstly from the Air Cadets where he won his flying scholarship, achieved his pilots licence, became an instructor, then an air traffic controller. He then changed career and became a company pilot, then upgraded his flying licences and after a couple of years joined the airline BIA, which later became Air UK. He moved from his base airport in Blackpool to Aberdeen and then in 1983 was posted to LeedsBradford which is where we met. After we married in 1985 he continued with Air UK which he then transferred to Air UK Leisure based in Manchester. He had a secondment to Malaysian Airlines in 1989 based in Kuala Lumpur and he really loved the flying there. He returned in 1990 and finally transferred his base back to LeedsBradford so he didn’t have to travel each time back from Manchester to our home in Darley, Near Harrogate. In the late 80s we built a home in South Africa which we travelled to often and John excelled at one of his hobbies of photography. Another hobby was picture framing and many local artists used his service. Never wanted it to be a business he was just good at it and loved meeting an array of interesting people. He took up fly fishing and sea fishing or fresh water fishing (was a bit bemused as I was better at catching fish) and also was a member of a rough shoot to which he took our dog along. He loved animals and dogs in particular. In 1998 he took early retirement and we went to live in South Africa. After an horrific incident we suffered there, we left and came back to UK, spending the winter in Spain until John suddenly came up with the idea that he would like a boat. Back in UK we enrolled at a RYA course and he became Captain of the sea, me being competent crew. (He always needed a 1st officer) Before we finished the course we bought a beautiful Dutch Motor yatch "Harriet" and sailed across the channel, through France and into the Med. Had 5 years on Harriet and met some more fantastic people some who have become dear friends. We travelled to NZ and Australia, spend 3 months in the outback. We came back to UK in 2007 and subsequently moved to Brunthwaite, Ner Silsden.We spent many months travelling around the UK in our touring caravan and in the winter drove to Spain to spend 3 or 4 months in a farmhouse near Javea.Since Covid put paid to our travels for a while stayed around the home and close friends then 3 years ago we bought a holiday lodge on the Isle of Bute. John really loved it there and the last two years he greatly enjoyed sitting on the deck looking at the mountains, Rothesay Bay just below us, and the deer and other wildlife that visited close by.
Many many happy memories of our life together came to end with John at home with me and his immediate friends and family around him. I will miss him terribly but the memories will never fade.
Rest in peace my Darling John hope you are enjoying the big blue skies and watching down on us that loved you.Forever Lynne.