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Unread 04-21-2019, 05:19 AM
Ann Drysdale's Avatar
Ann Drysdale Ann Drysdale is offline
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Default Our John's Funeral today: UPDATE

I am so sorry to have to tell you that John Whitworth has died.

He has been in hospital for some months, much of it in intensive care, and as some of you will be aware, he had been failing for some time before he stopped posting on these threads.

His wife, Doreen, rang me this morning. I took the liberty of extending, on behalf of all his Spherean friends, our condolences to her and to his beloved daughters.

RIP my friend. Tears now; laughter later.
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Unread 04-21-2019, 05:52 AM
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Michael F Michael F is offline
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Oh, thank you, Annie, for telling us, and for extending our condolences.

I had delightful interactions with John on these boards. I'll remember his puckish intelligence and his generous heart.

M
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Unread 04-21-2019, 06:37 AM
Chris O'Carroll Chris O'Carroll is offline
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Sad news. Thank you, Ann, for letting us know.

John and I never met in person, but he was a lively correspondent, and he did me a much appreciated good turn by mail years ago. Prize-money checks (or cheques) from Spectator competitions were piling up on my desk and I wasn't bothering to deposit them at my bank because the foreign transaction fees involved would have meant losing money on every win. John volunteered to operate a private bureau de change; I'd sign the magazine's checks over to him and he'd send me equivalent quantities of U.S. currency. On one occasion, I arranged to buy a short stack of his books by that method. He kept a share of my winnings and I got a parcel full of good reading. That's my idea of a good international trade agreement.
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Unread 04-21-2019, 07:09 AM
David Anthony David Anthony is offline
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I’m so sorry to hear that.
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Unread 04-21-2019, 07:26 AM
Mark McDonnell Mark McDonnell is offline
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This is very sad news. I didn't know him, but John on the sphere always made me smile, even (especially?) when he was completely infuriating people. He seemed a very kind, sensitive man under all the bluster.

Rest in Peace, John.
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Unread 04-21-2019, 07:47 AM
Orwn Acra Orwn Acra is offline
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hy9mZblMhI
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Unread 04-22-2019, 12:16 PM
F.F. Teague F.F. Teague is offline
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Hi Ann,

I'm so sorry to read this :-(

I'd noticed that John had stopped posting, but I didn't know he was ill. I just thought he was busy elsewhere and I hoped he'd be back at some point. I never met him in person, but on the 'sphere I found him incredibly funny. Many of his posts caused me to cry with laughter. I also thought he was warm and kind.

With condolences,
Fliss
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