Like most of us, re-enactment was a big part of Johns life. Just as he was a big part of ours. Here are three gems that I will always hear John saying ( or shouting! ) as he tried desperately to install a fragment of discipline into the unruly mob that were his auxiliaries...
" Auxilia.....PUGNATE! "
" Adrian, are you listening? "
" Which way are you going, Ross? "
I don't know what we are going to do without you, mate. Wherever you are now, I hope the beer is cold and the sun is shining.
Zane Green,
Colchester Roman Society.
i had not known john for long and i cannot say that i knew him well. we attended many Roman shows together and the conversations we did share showed his passion for the society and roman history.
we were all gathered together when we recieved the news of John, Dave and Clare having been in an accident on the way to the event at Chedworth. Many were visibly shaken and some reduced to tears.
as john would have wanted, we all carried on with the event with our thoughts invariably returning to john's condition.
On Sunday we knew that John's condition was terminal and it was only a matter of time.
On Sunday evening, as we were breaking down the buildings and packing everything away, we were still awaiting news of John.
David and Carol had been recalled to the Hospital and we all were anxious for news.
At this point I came across a box marked "John Artist" and as i slowly looked around at the array of equipment and part dismantled buildings, i picked out the shield i'd seen John painting at Archeon last year and the walls of the bathhouse he painted in February. There were dozens of memories of john and conversations we'd had that had slipped from my mind into the hussle and bussle of our weekend events. I smiled.
I would ask all members, everytime the buildings are assembled and the kit laid out, have a look for john, his touch is everywhere.He is with us for as long as we repeat his phrases with pride, ...."they wore trouserssssssss"and admire his handiwork.
Spare a smile for his memory rather than a tear.
Big Steve
"Severus"
Ludus Gladitorius
