John James (Passed away 2 Dec 2020)

It was with sadness I heard of John’s passing in early December, I wish to send my sympathies to the family and friends of John, a kind fun loving gent who influenced so many people.

I too met John through Yeovil College caving club in the early 90’s and remember fondly the Blue Fish (I’ve played that trick on both other cavers and my kids), Wednesday Mendip caving and the Yorkshire yearly trips.

I remember trying to lock John into the telephone box in Helwith bridge by wrapping a caving rope around it, and failing, John was an incredibly strong chap and pinned me up against the phone box with one arm before getting me back later.

I still cave now and have been the Secretary of DevonSS caving club in the past, the love of caving came from John and Richard of Yeovil College Caving caving club, without John’s input I would have missed out on visiting so many exciting underground places.

Thanks for the many memories

Jason

We both new John for many years. Dave worked at Yeovil College alongside John and we were both part of the college caving and climbing club.
Many fond years of Caving trips all over Somerset and the Yearly week in Yorkshire caving , pub, walking and cycling.
John enjoyed his Mountain Biking to and myself (Jane) have fun memories of a competition we took part in together in Kielder Forest, Polaris MTB event. We laughed our way through the snow and horrendous conditions, John was a great motivator and nothing phased him. His Jam sandwiches were always a source of joking for years...even in Christmas cards.
He'll be very much missed but always remembered, a wonderful kind person.

The Willmotts

Thank you John for all the good times at Yeovil College Caving Club.
Yours faithfully .
Lee Waters.

John James
I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John, he was a real gentleman and inspiration to me during my teenage years.

I knew John whist being an engineering student at Yeovil College and have meny great memories of him. Most Wednesdays and some weekends John and Richard Loveless would lead us merry bunch of teenagers underground caving in the Mendip hills, and getting us hanging by ropes off Portland Bill.

John also organised memorable weeklong caving trips to the Yorkshire Dales. After a hard days caving we would end up in the pub warming up and singing American Pie by Don Mclean.

He had a great sense of humour and would be often laughing at us and joining in with our daft antics. This included looking for the famous Mendip blue fish, whilst gently turning stones over in a deep-water filled pool, John would drop a large rock in the centre of the pool drenching all of us. He was not just a great lecturer he was a good friend during my three years at Yeovil College.

He was super fit and into his cycling as well as caving, so it was some surprise when he took up lawn bowels, I know we gave him some stick about it, and he would just laugh it off with his characteristic laugh.

John was one of a few Engineering Lecturers at Yeovil Collage to inspire me into the outdoors and engineering; I am now a Design and Technology Teacher and Mountain Leader and would like to think that it was some of John’s influence that inspired me down this path.

Thank you John for those happy times at Yeovil College.

Yours faithfully.
Lee Waters.

A lovely man and true gentleman who will be greatly missed. Dr Edwards (GP)