John Albert BIRD (22 Nov 1927 - 26 Jan 2020)

In loving memory of John Albert BIRD who sadly passed away on 26th January 2020 in Epsom.

John was born in 1927 in Richmond, Surrey - his terraced house in Manor Grove backed onto the railway line where his lifelong love of steam trains began. His neighbor became his best friend, David Draper, and together they cycled from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in 1960 and joined the Kingston YHA Group who became a large part of his life.
He travelled, walked and cycled near and far with a great group of people who became lifelong friends and are still know today as “The Group”. In rain or shine they were out walking and cycling in Britain’s countryside or having all sorts of get together's and parties with much fun and laughter.
When he married his beloved Elizabeth in 1961, he whisked her off to Paris, but to her surprise it was on the bikes that they travelled, and it became part of their lifestyle, and family holidays were “cycling holidays” of which Caroline and Terence have great memories.
As well as trains and cycling his other great passion was the weather. As the local weatherman, he went up the garden faithfully every morning and every evening to take the readings and scrupulously fill in his records. He was known for taking more pictures of the clouds than of his family! He also gave conferences and was the local weather man on Thames radio in the late 90’s.
He was an active member of the Kingston community and started work as a local government officer at county hall before going on to be Registrar and clerk to the governors at KCFE College until 1980 when he took early retirement. He was also a local Rotary Club Member and was President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1994-5 and later, President of the Probus club in 2007.
It has been sad to see him suffering from dementia for the past years, but we will remember him as he was before and know that he is now at peace and reunited with his beloved Liz.
HE WILL BE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS AND HOPE HE IS CYCLING HEAVEN’S ROADS