John Parsons
6th April 1935 – 12th February 2023

By Helen Richardson

John joined the SCoM in 1997. At the time, although he had been a keen mountain walker for more than four decades, he had never been skiing. However, with Joy’s enthusiastic encouragement, he learned to ski on a Club holiday the following year, — at the age of 62!

Brian and I enjoyed skiing with John and Joy on several holidays in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, and Joy recalls the encouragement that Brian (and others) gave John, especially in his early ski days. It wasn’t long before he could get around the mountain on blues and reds, and the occasional black.

From then on, John went skiing every year, often with his grandsons, and sometimes with the Club. Away from skiing, John and Joy have regularly joined SCoM’s City Walks and Summer Walks, where his interesting conversation and gentle character made for very pleasant company.

John’s love of walking in the mountains stretched back to his student days, when he joined the University of London Mountaineering Club. ‘Staying on’ as a member of UoL Graduate Mountaineering Club, he continued to enjoy annual trips to the Scottish Highlands. Indeed, John and Joy met through mutual friends in their Mountaineering Club, which has remained an important part of their shared lives. John and Joy continued to walk every year in the Scottish Highlands, and also in the Lake District and Wales until very recently.

John passed away peacefully at home with his family around him. Our condolences go to Joy and to his family. Like many others, I’ll miss John and his cheerful companionship.