John Sowter (27 Apr 1942 - 10 Feb 2026)

Thank you everyone for all the thoughtful and kind comments. Thank you too for all the shared memories and photographs. John would have appreciated every one of them.

It was an honour to share a chapter in John's life after moving to Walkeringham 20years ago. We could not have wished for a better neighbour and kind and caring friend. We will be forever grateful for John's fighting spirit to support many projects for local causes and supporting the Village Hall and residents of Walkeringham including protests against further housing developments after the village floods of 2007.
We hold so many fond memories of fun and happy social times together with John including BBQ's, pub meals, Sunday lunches and evening soirees, sharing life stories with his cheeky sense of humour and his worldly knowledge and experiences, whilst enjoying his favourite dish of Greek Moussaka.
John was always there to lend a hand and help out with lifts and tricky jobs to be done whenever we needed support. We thank you for all you were to us John, you will be forever in our hearts, may you rest in peace dear friend with much love. Yamas Jani xxx

I knew John as a teenager living in Coulsdon, he in Scouts, me in Guides. In the many combined activities, as we grew up, he was always enthusiastic, fun and helpful. With three other Scouting lads he helped to build the new Old Coulsdon Scout hut and that foursome remained friends even to his last days. As the lads became young men they paired up with their girls, got engaged and then married by the mid 1960s. John had us laughing when we heard how he met Esther at the fairground on the swing boats! She had lost her purse so John, as the young gentleman he was, rescued her, escorting her home to her parent's house. The then eightsome assembled 'Ambi', an old St John's ambulance which we all converted to a campervan. That was the start of so many holidays together even travelling with it to camp in Europe. Eventually, our children were arriving and John was godfather to our first daughter. Many more holidays came and went along with more of the four scouter's families growing and caravans or tents replacing 'Ambi' as we ventured to Lannacombe. I remember one year going out in John's new-to-him sailing dingy when we capsized! In true scouting style Len chugged out in his small outboard motor boat and towed us safely back to shore. I still try to get to Lannacombe each summer but now it's grandchildren playing cricket on the beach. Henry, John and Esther's son, has two boys they were the youngest batsman and fielder heroes this year. I sit on the millstone and remember the fun times we had together fishing, crabbing, swimming and marvel at the two generations who now continue with that friendship and the life style we passed on to them. John had such a large part in that, we'll never forget him.
Rest in peace you rascal.

I met John in 2002 whilst living in Kefalonia, from the moment I met him ( and The lovely Fliss) I knew I was going to be a friend, John was one of the most likeable people I have ever met, he was kind, honest, generous, thoughtful, loyal, if he could ever help you he would and never let you down.
Living in Kefalonia you get to miss certain things from England and my weakness and partiality was a pork pie, nearly every summer John would bring me out a pork pie, like I mentioned always generous and thoughtful and thinking of others before himself,
One thing I never found out from John ( probably because I never asked) was he knew my name was Mark, but he used to call me all names, Cecil, Basil, Humphrey to name a few, we used to have some great laughs, I will miss you John more than you will ever realise, you were a true friend, sleep tight, love you xxx

In our age it is always sad to let a good friend go.I have been working together with John since I could engage him as our representative for UK for our company AKW AUV GmbH
in 1975. Since that time
we worked closely together- lateron also with Bernd Bohle(see his comment above).We bothcould experience the friendship and honesty of
John during so many years
John was not only our business partner in UK-
but also our good teacherto learn and estimate UK an its people and country.We-Bernd and I very glad to such a good friend in the UK -
where we always could rely on.
I thank John for the long time we have been together .He will live in my heart as long as I am alive
Fred Donhauser

John was such a big part of my childhood. Esther, John, Rebecca and Henry would regularly spend the weekend at ours helping renovate our Sussex cottage.
'Uncle' John was always up for an activity and a laugh at our families annual summer holiday at the beach in South Devon - along with the first swear words we ever heard as children!

Memories of John- Holidays with John, Esther , Becky and Henry- We were out in the sea in my dad’s boat with John when John noticed we needed to rescue my brother Simon and Lou who had lost control of their sailing boat. We had to rush to save them!! Seemed very dramatic at the time and the first time I heard the ‘f word’ as John exclaimed it loudly when he saw them capsized!

Love to you all at this sad time xxx

Memories of my Dad

Several events come to mind as I think about Dad and I will share some of them here:

* A grey, cloudy and cold summer day at the end of our holiday by the sea, being the only person (at the age of about nine) around to help lift Bucks Fizz, our boat, up the beach and then up the steep, narrow, treacherous cliff path onto the waiting trailer. Not easy!
* A glorious hot day, in the same location. The sea was "as flat as a mill pond", when Dad was teaching me to row.
* A trip to the newsagents when Henry was in hospital with our mum, Esther, and Dad was looking after me. He bought me more sweets than I had ever seen before. I was delighted.
* At our beach again, and Dad thought he would try windsurfing with Gerry. It didn't go well; he capsized and came to shore with a black eye.
* The Isle of Wight, circa 1988, and Dad took a funny turn on Ventnor sea front. We never did get to the bottom of what was wrong with him.
* Happening upon a treasure hunt in Billingshurst one day, and spending hours completing it with Henry, Clive, Jacqueline and Edward and getting home so late Mum thought we had got lost!

One of my best memories is of Dad "dancing" at my wedding reception, careering down the barn dance line without a care in the world.

I think he was enjoying himself!

I joined the 17th Purley Cubs when I was 9. John was my patrol leader at my first scout camp when I was 12,We went through the Scouts , senior and Rover Scouts together with Peters H and P and me he was the Scout leader for many years. We had many holidays in Devon with our familys. He also had an old police car early on with many Saturday trips to Brighton!! Thank you Fliss for looking after him so well.

We knew John for about 70 years and spent happy memories on holidays, home improvement days and social days. He was a good friend. Our sincere condolences to Fliss who was a wonderful wife to John for over 25 years.

John was a lovely man who we have some wonderful memories of times spent with you both on holiday in Kefalonia so sorry for your loss Fliss please accept our condolences

A lovely man who I was privileged to call my friend. Fellow President of the Minerals Engineering Society, who I’ve known 35 years. A great loss and the world will be a worse place without him. My condolences to Fliss and the family and RIP my dear friend your last shift is over

Sending our love & prayers at this very sad time Fliss to you & all the family. John was a lovely man who will be greatly missed. Much love Celia & Paddy xxx

With thoughts and prayers Felicity and all your family from Elaine & Stuart Millard x

John, you were a lovely man and so welcoming to my sister. Rest in peace with the angels xx