Hundreds bid farewell to Bristol chef
Hundreds turned out for the funeral of the 64-year-old cafe owner, who died last week after suffering a sudden heart attack.
With around 400 mourners, people were standing in the aisles at Canford Crematorium in Westbury-on-Trym, with more listening to the service on speakers set up outside.
Messages were read out from his four grandchildren; Lily, Rosie, Johnny and Ava paying tribute to their grandad.
The father-of-two was the owner of John's Cafe in Midland Road, Old Market, and The Victoria Cafe, in Victoria Street before that.
He ran the restaurant with his wife Janice, and was often helped out in front of house by his daughter Suzanne. He also had a son, Martin.
It was in his role as a chef that many came to know him, and half a dozen friends spoke at the service of a man with many passions and a wicked sense of humour.
Dougal Templeton described him jokingly as "Ray Winstone meets Victor Meldrew", adding that "time spent with John was time well spent". Miles Kirke, a regular customer, said: "This was a seriously talented cook.
"He was charming, loving and had a unique way of talking to his customers."
John left school at 14 and went to work for De Beers in Zambia and Bermuda, working his way up from office boy to company secretary before leaving for a change of career and a move to Bristol in the late 1970s.
He opened his first cafe in 1979 and never looked back.
Friend Reg Evans said: "All he met saw his big, lovely smile.
"He was always a cup half full rather than half empty man.
"He's gone. He's left a massive gap in our lives but he will never be forgotten."
The service ended with Neil Young's song Heart of Gold.
The crowds then viewed the many flowers left for John before heading to the wake at The Beehive pub in Henleaze.
Friends mocked up 200 front pages of The Sun involving John, which speaker Andy Franks said were going like hot cakes after the service.
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