1919- 2009

John Thornton and Warwick are synonymous, indeed he and his wife Peggy were described as "Mr & Mrs Warwick". John was was born in Birmingham but his family moved to Warwick when he was a boy and this was to be his home for the rest of his life. He attended King’s High kindergarten and later Warwick School, where many town friendships were wrought. He and his brother were invited to play at what was then a farm on Hampton Road where he met the farmer’s daughter Margaret ("Peggy") who was to be his wife. They started courting in 1936 and were married in 1942 at St Mary’s, Warwick and went on to enjoy celebrate 66 years of marriage.

John’s early years were dominated by military service having initially enlisted with the British Army in India at the age of 15. He went on to serve as a gunner in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and saw service in Belgium, France, Holland and Germany before becoming a civilian in 1952. Being brought up as a practical man with a sound understanding of mechanics he worked as a draughtsman for a number of local engineering firms. John’s military years resulted in him being able to speak French, German and Dutch and he took a keen interest in military history. He also loved cycling; he owned a tandem and a full-size tricycle, which he would ride up to 20 miles a day in his latter years.

John’s bellringing career, shared with Peggy, started in mid-life and continued for over 40 years, being a stalwart of the St Mary’s, Warwick band. He would undertake maintenance, wind the clock and raise the flag as well as helping at local practices. John only rang two peals but was content to ring quarter peals. Despite the long climb to the belfry, he continued to ring on Sundays until a few months before his death only five weeks before his 90th birthday.

Above all, John loved people; he liked nothing better than talk to and listen to others’ stories. In this respect he was always an ambassador for visitors to St Mary’s belfry. John served on the ancient Court Leet, St Mary’s Hall Trustees and the Warwick Society. It was small wonder, therefore, that his funeral on Maundy Thursday was attended by some 200 people from many local groups, there to celebrate the life of this modest and much loved "son of Warwick". The service included addresses from his three children and from the Lt Col Lesinski, Master of the Lord Leycester Hospital and the ten bells were rung open after the service. A number of memorial quarter peals were subsequently rung which have been published separately.

We extend our sympathies to his wife Peggy, to their children Christina, Mary and John and other members of the family.

Chris Mew