John David Roberts (12 Aug 1946 - 18 Dec 2025)

In loving memory of John David Roberts who sadly passed away on 18th December 2025.

John was a loving husband to his wife Daphne and father to his three children, Gillian, Elizabeth and Michael. He was a man of few words, whose actions spoke louder than words. John was always willing to offer support and practical advice to those in need. As a father and grandfather, he always made time for his children and grandchildren, whether that be telling them his own original bedtime stories, helping assemble Warhammer or Hornby, or teaching them how to row a dinghy. He was never someone who was overly concerned with appearance or superficial factors, but focused on the content of someone's character – a good trait he lived by and passed on to his children.

Those who knew him would certainly be aware that John was a keen sailor with a deep passion for the hobby. He was a lifelong member at the Medway Yacht Club and travelled on numerous voyages with family and friends around the UK and to locations across Europe, including France and Belgium. Right up until recently he was going on adventures sailing around the tip of Scotland. It was a deep passion and often at home he would be found in the garage, passionately crafting or maintaining gadgets for his boat Jacstar.

Growing up he was highly intellectual. Not only did he read history at Jesus College, Oxford, but he was actually an Oxford Scholar, which means he was incredibly academically gifted to stand out in that institution. To those around him he was a font of knowledge when it came to all sorts of obscure historical facts and trivia. After leaving university his career followed his passion for boating into the shipping and containerisation industry at P&O, which later was acquired by Maersk. His job took him across much of Asia, including Hong Kong, Japan and most notably Singapore, where he ended up meeting Daphne, his wife. He was very well respected at work for his formidable knowledge of the shipping industry and even consulted on trade and supply routes in case of political crises. After he retired he also went on to co-author a book on the shipping industry.

Though to us, his family, he was dad, grandad and husband. We have so many wonderful memories of him, whether it was delivering heartfelt yet witty speeches at his daughters' weddings, surprising his son with a copy of Super Mario Land after returning from a long work trip away, or being the favourite victim for pranks by his grandchildren with whoopee cushions and electric chewing gum. He was not a traditionally romantic man but he deeply loved his wife Daphne and wanted her to be independent and strong – encouraging her back into the teaching profession which she had given up for many years after moving away from Singapore and starting a family. John will be sorely missed but he leaves a legacy filled with love through his children and grandchildren. In his last days he was surrounded by loving family, some of whom travelled vast distances to see him. We are now sure he is off merrily sailing across the English Channel with his sister, mother and father on a new adventure, writing a new logbook entry that he will no doubt plan to share with us all one day.

Due to his lifelong love of sailing and all things boat-related, we are raising funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution – a really important charity that saves lives at sea – in his name. We would encourage everyone to donate.