Born in Newport and educated locally he first built and sailed a Mirror Dinghy while still at school.

Apprenticed to a local builder R.W.A. Reed as a carpenter followed on to Vectis Stone Ltd. as a Junior Engineer eventually specialising in marine engineering. For a time he managed Dudley Barnes Marine where his extensive knowledge of local waters was invaluable to the building of pontoons, marinas and sea defences.

John sailed on "Knockout" owned by Sir Max Aitken and "Cifraline" chartered by Chris Griffiths, both of which competed in the Southern Cross Series in 1979 and 1985.

Crewing for Chris Dunning on "Marionette" he raced in several Cowes Weeks as well as the tragic Fastnet Race of 1979.

As an individual yachtsman, he fitted out a Sonata named "Aeolian" which won at Hamble, Warsash and Cowes as well as the Sonata Championships at Hayling Island. Even greater success followed with "Purple Haze" a classic quarter-tonner with wins in Cowes Week over four occasions. He enjoyed the Solent racing throughout the season and especially sailing "Pinball Wizard" a Half-tonner on Tuesday nights.

His love of the water came from family connections and he was as happy to be involved in Race Management as to compete.

This was John's second term as Commodore, just standing in for one year's term. He first served as

Commodore 1998-2000

Vice Commodore 1995-1997

Rear Commodore 1985-1987, 1997-1998

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More Info...This can be found in THE ISLAND SAILING CLUB HISTORY BOOK 1889 - 2014