Joc
was born at Totteridge, the eldest child of Ronald. A few days later
his father was invited to Shanghai to restore relationships between
Chinese Christian students and the British community after a riot.
When the family left Tyneside for Hong Kong, Joc and Judith were taught
at first by 'Kenny' [Nancy McKenna from Newcastle]. When they returned
from furlough in England in 1936 Joc went to the Diocesan Boys School,
until he was brought back to England to school in Brackley and then
at St Edward's School in Oxford.
For his National Service he joined the RAF and became a wireless operator
in Lancasters with the rank of Flight Sergeant, but the wars in Europe
and the Pacific ended before he went operational.
When he was demobbed, he studied at Borough Polytechnic, and then
worked on ferroceramics at Plesseys in Towcester.
Scouting was his major interest, leading a troop in East London, and
as a Rover Scout he attended a Moot in Switzerland.
On
his way to a dentist appointment in Oxford, he died in a motorcycle
accident three weeks before his 30th birthday. This photo was taken
two months before as a present for his father's 60th birthday. His
ashes are buried before the altar rail in Harpsden Church near Henley-on-Thames
alongside many of his ancestors.
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