John died peacefully in hospital near his home in Norwich on 8 Jul 2014, aged 90. After joining the TA in July 1942 he was called up in September, reporting to Nelson Barracks in Norwich. From March 1943 to September 1943 John served with the 70th Bn, a Young Soldiers Bn formed after the Battle of Britain. Commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment in January 1944, he served with 2 Royal Norfolk until March 1947. In May 1944 John was on a draft to Italy then served briefly with 2 Hampshires. Wounded in February 1945, he was invalided out, convalesced in Rome and then was part of the relieving force in Greece and served in Nairobi, Burma and India from November 1945 to January 1946.

After the war John went to Clare College, Cambridge, where he read agriculture and rowed for his college. He married Jill in January 1950 and they had four children, Ralph, Philippa, Sylvia and Rosalind. Jill died in June 1984 and he married, secondly, Paula, who survives him. John was descended from an old Norfolk family who owned much land in Norfolk and lived at Morton Hall, where he farmed. He was High Sheriff of Norfolk 1978-79. John and Paula were strong supporters of the Regiment and attended most of the annual events.

A Service of Thanksgiving, attended by over 100, was held at Norwich Cathedral on 26 Sep 2014, conducted by the Very Revd Jane Hedges, the first female Dean in the Cathedral’s 900 year history. The Glory of Life is Love was read by John’s grandson Oliver Berney and Canon Richard Capper, the Canon Pastor, gave the Address. The range of music played matched John’s eclectic taste: Ombra mai fu – GF Handel, A Solemn Melody – H Walford Davies, Stranger on the Shore – Acker Bilk, God is in my head – H Walford Davies. The closing music was Jupiter, The Planets by Gustav Holst.

It was a majestic service commemorating a much respected man of culture, an upright citizen of great humour, a loving family man and a most modest Gentleman of the ‘Old School’, who will be sadly missed. Our sympathies go to Paula and the family.

The photograph is of John at The Royal Norfolk Show in 2009. Below are extracts from the tribute by his daughters Philippa, Sylvia and Rosalind at his Service of Thanksgiving.