Johnny died of a brain tumour six weeks ago this Sunday. At 60 he wasn’t old and was very much younger than this in his outlook. He is sorely missed by the many Bell House volunteers with whom he worked. Johnny’s contribution was enormous: he organised most of our promotional material and managed the Bell House Films channel, but equally importantly he was constantly coming up with creative courses, and making them happen.
Marmalade-making at Bell House
To take just a few examples, he ran a successful marmalade-making course and creative drawing classes with Michel Tranquillini. In another case, Johnny initiated an urban vineyard course, and, as a direct result, we have vines growing in the gardens. We had expected that he would live to help organise the making of Bell House wine. He also produced a lot of our literature - handbooks, historical guides and brochures.
In all these he was an inventor, a team player, a doer, and he always applied an artistic eye to bring out the beauty in life. Johnny was a disarmingly charming ‘whipper-inner’ - someone who would get new people involved and motivated - and he mentored all the younger Bell House volunteers. At our parties, indeed at any party, Johnny always seemed to be at the centre of a gaggle of animated people. He was sparky, witty, generous, and demonstrated what it means to be an active listener.
What we loved about him was his deep curiosity - wanting to know about everything from Tik-Tok to Twitter, car-free cities to electric bikes, and from posh hotels to homelessness (about which he cared deeply). Whenever you pick up a Bell House tea towel, drink from a Bell House mug, or watch the opening of a Bell House film, please remember him, because you are using his creations and interacting with his spirit.
Johnny, you inspired us over many years… and you still do today.
Fabienne & Angus Hanton