John Michael Burton (30 Oct 1944 - 1 May 2018)

In loving memory of John Michael Burton who sadly and expectedly passed away on 1st May .

A Leicester lad all his life (despite a small sojourn to Nottingham as a small child) he loved the city and Leicester City FC. Graham Cross ensured a season ticket for him and his Father-in-Law in the mid -1970s and for the past decade he has held a seat in the West Stand of the King Power stadium witnessing both 'the great escape' and the Premier League winning season. Champions League nights were mainly spent with his daughter, Nicola and he had managed to get his wife, Ann supporting 'City as if by osmosis and despite the Sussex girl being a Brighton & Hove Albion fan!

An accomplished sportsman with many trophies in football, cricket and skittles. His later years were spent swimming at St. Margaret's baths and latterly Aylestone making many friends in his wake. Some wondered how he could manage to swim and talk so much!

Brought up in Syston he was one of the first boys to join the 11th Leicester (Syston) Boys Brigade co-founded by his uncle, Ted Court. he was also a choirboy as well as co-founding the Syston Cons 'A' skittles team with good friend, Mick Cheetham.

For someone so synonymous with Syston, John spent 47 years living in what his daughter terms 'the people's republic of' Braunstone Town and was well known in Asda passing the time of day with many of the workers there when he went shopping.

John married the former Ann Tsinnontas in 1971 after meeting six years earlier in the Palais de Danse. They had one daughter, Nicola who moved to Glasgow 20 years ago. Her frequent telephone calls to her parents affectionately known as "The woman from Glsagow is on the phone again" by her father. John has missed out on Nicola and Robert's wedding by 86 days.

Latterly known as a cordwainer at Equity Shoes, specialising in sandals and hand lasting, John was also a nurseryman working in Williks and Rearsby Roses. His love of roses and gardening is shown in his beautiful back garden and his many watercolour paintings inspired by the flowers he grew.

John leaves a huge hole in the lives of Ann, Nicola, Robert and his sisters, Carole and Sharon. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him as a quiet, gentle, gentleman - A true quiet warrior.