(1929-2021) Interviewed 2016 & 2017.

John became interested in barges as a boy living in Shoeburyness. In 1943, age 14, he cycled, with 4 friends, to Wiltshire to help with the harvest. Being war time there were no signposts but they got there, worked for 2 weeks, then cycled back to Southend. In later years he bought his own barge, “Gippin”, fitted it out and lived on it with his family for several years on the Hythe. He also fitted out the barges “Kitty” and “Centaur”.