William John Turton (19 Feb 1935 - 4 Jul 2025)

William John Turton, known to all of his friends as 'John', was born on 19th February 1935 and died on 4th July 2025, a 90 year innings. A pupil of Nottingham High School from 1944-1953, the love of sport he gained at School, where he played first team rugby and cricket, dominated the rest of his life - in his last week he was following the British Lions in Australia and he played both sports well into his thirties. His love of sport was not limited to rugby and cricket - he was at Wembley in 1959, when Nottingham Forest last lifted the FA Cup and keenly supported his children's swimming activity in their teens - his daughter, Claire swam in the National Championships for her age group in 1979 and 1981, something in which he took great pride. In his last years he supported his grandson Meach in his own rugby career, playing for Milton Keynes.

The son of George and Emily Turton (nee Frost), John's love for family was a defining feature of his life, blossoming still further when he met his wife, Maureen, to whom he was unquestionably devoted, marrying in 1961 and going on to have two children, Philip (born 1965) and Claire (born 1967). Rarely has a man been so lucky in his marriage as John and the two of them proved an enduring and contented couple, facing life's hurdles with unity and resolve. Life is never easy all the time, they were no exception, but whatever came, they faced together.

John maintained links with Heanor, from whence his parents had come, and his extended family over the whole of his life, but he was brought up in Nuthall and lived there the whole of his life. A keen historian, any conversation with John could veer into the history of Nuthall Church, the first car in Heanor (owned by his grandfather) or the innocence of Richard III at a moment's notice. He was a passionate collector of porcelain and a keen bird-watcher.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1960, spending his career at the Stanton Ironworks in Derbyshire, initially for Stanton & Staveley Ltd, subsequently the British Steel Corporation and Stanton plc.

Retirement brought happiness and the opportunity to travel more with Maureen, which they both relished, until ill health curtailed her abilities before her death in 2012. John nursed and cared for her through her final years and there is no question that life without her was more bleak but he continued to relish his children and grandsons, Meach, (born 2003) and George (born 2008), the latter following his grandfather to Nottingham High School, proving another source of pride to John, who was ever ready to provide advice to both, usually outdated but always well intentioned!.

Whilst his last years were troubled by illness, his was a long, rich life of contentment and love. Death inevitably brings sadness and reflection but, in John's case there is much to celebrate as well as to mourn.

The funeral will be at Bramcote Crematorium on 8th August at 11am. All who knew John are welcome and there is a Livestream for those of his friends who are unable to travel. There is no need for anyone attending to wear black (unless you want to).