RIP - John R Marcheselli (ORC, 56-59)

John Randall Marcheselli: Orchard, 1956 - 1959)

Born 3rd February 1942 - Died 3rd July 2024

John was a man of so many interests, sporting, cultural, social, how can we get them all in to one brief eulogy. The longest speech in parliament was six hours in the 1830s. I could easily beat that, but am told I mustn’t keep you too long

So, I’d better begin by apologising for missing out any key interest or hobby you shared with him, and not being able to mention all the many people he met and influenced in his remarkable life as well as those that influenced him.

THE BASIC FACTS

John was born in July 1942 in London. Because of the Blitz, his mother then took him to live with his grandparents in South Wales. It was here that he probably acquired his love of gardening – Uncle for roses, Grandfather for vegetables.

After the war, work took his father to North India where he managed India’s biggest mineral quarry. John and his mother followed. John was enrolled in a school in Darjeeling, before coming back to Prep School in Chepstow, staying with his grandparents during the holidays.

Then onto Christ’s College, Brecon, the start of his rugby.

When he finished there, it was what to do next. His father suggested John followed him into mining and so it was off to Camborne School of Mining – the Cornish link in his life.

After Camborne he had a number of jobs, subsequently going to work for RMC, better known as Ready Mixed Concrete.

Work later took him to Sheffield.

He then moved into the world of car dealerships – initially withLex in S. Wales. Subsequently they wanted him to go to America which he declined. Instead, he stayed in the UK and took on some of their Volvo franchises.

Expanding them very successfully, these businesses saw him migrate along the M4 corridor.

Here, living and working over a wide area of the South, he and Sue welcomed James, Tom and Helen into the world.

He later added Jack to the Marceselli family, with Cathy.

Having lived North, South and West he finally settled for the middle - moving to Market Drayton, over 30 years ago, where he and Beryl, worked tirelessly converting The Old Smithy Farm into the splendid home, beautiful garden and the excellent hospitality centre many of us were lucky to know it as. It also became a renowned Cidery, but more on that later. Vicky and Tom lived here with them in the early days.

From his Drayton base, John continued to be an incredibly active and well-respected businessman, who loved helping other people succeed.

Whether through one of his many formal consultancy roles through Business Link, a retirement activity with Chris Ball – a sad absentee today or informally in exchange for a few pints or even a bottle of wine it led to many lasting friendships with those he helped.

THE INTERESTS

I’ve already mentioned several of John’s interests’ rugby, gardening, business. But as you all will know there are so many more, but none more important to him than FAMILY.

FAMILY

The joy and pleasure John took, from the company of his family will be well known to any of you who has seen him around them, or heard him speak of them, awed as he was by each of them.  The enjoyment John took from his grandchildren was a delight. In a life lived to the full, I know his biggest regret will be not seeing them grow into the wonderful adults he had no doubt they will become.  

SPORT

RUGBY was his lifelong passion and another thing that he excelled at. Playing for Christ College (Brecon), Camborne, Sheffield, then briefly at Saracens before deciding he wanted to play at a more sociable level and joining King’s B’s, as well as making other guest appearances. He also enthusiastically followed local, national and international rugby levels, after his playing days were over.

CRICKET that he watched at all levels and countries. Enjoying the Scarborough Cricket Festival, county cricket at Worcester, Old Trafford and the Oval as well as Newlands in Cape Town. Although he was, I am told, a better spectator than partaker at cricket.

He loved these two sports but kept up with many other sports. He was always keen to discuss all results whenever you met him and notably at the White Lion.

The recent OLYMPICS would have benefited from this wise analysis.

SAILING

Now I realise this is a sport, but it deserves it’s own mention. It was one John took very seriously, especially in his 38ft Sigma Flo-Jo (named after the 1980’s American 100 m and 200m athlete Florence Griffith-Joyner).

He raced very COMPETITIVELY in Cowes Week, which included incidents with the then Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip. Another fellow competitor crewing a rival in these races was Sophie Rhys-Jones, now herself The Duchess of Edinburgh.

Another serious sailing adventure saw him sail across the Atlantic Ocean with Phil and Jill Gordon in their 35 ft wooden yawl Deliverance in 14 days, which is quick going.

Phil has plenty of stories of sail training from earlier days, when they learnt how to sail dinghies in the Cornish rivers estuaries, aided by a book John brought with him usefully titled, “How to Sail”.

But the other side of his sailing was his SOCIAL sailing. He loved to take people sailing WHATEVER their skill level to let them see what fun it was. He enjoyed sailing not only in British waters but also the Mediterranean and Adriatic – enjoying warmer waters and evening visits to tavernas for refreshments – never a man to be at a loss with a wine glass in his hand.

He also enjoyed sailing the Caribbean and one very notable adventure led to him staying there for 12 weeks, whilst every 2 weeks a new crew arrived to help him cope with the next leg.

I was lucky enough to be part of the last leg crew.

At all times, John was a consummate, safe, skipper who was always calm and in control, with an assured smile at all times – Captain Jack or was that Captain Pugwash?

THE GARDEN

We will all have seen the pride he and Beryl put in to keep the Smithy, so attractive all year round but I must also mention the vegetables and that competitive element again. Including traveling to N Lancashire to buy onion sets that were definitely going to get him 1st prize at the Eccleshall Festival. Tomatoes were another key product and this year’s crop are going strong.

I heard talk of growing carrots or was it leeks in drain pipes for more prize entries. Whether true or not his produce was always top class. His What’s App photo is him proudly holding his huge home grown cabbage. One he could be and was truly proud of.

CIDER

The garden produces plentiful apples. So what do you do?

Well when you’re an entrepreneur like John, you start another company of course - The Old Farts Cider Company.

This began almost 20 years ago and has involved several helpers but all following the instructions from John’s cider making booklet – How to make cider.

The product was always meticulously created and very quaffable and no one, to date, had been damaged by the very occasional exploding cork or even bottle. Although it was always advisable to open them outside with a pint glass at the ready.

ART

Another string to John’s many interests was Art. Again many of you will have seen the varied art works he has collected over the years, but also know of his love of visiting galleries. Especially to see his favourite artists – such as Kyffin Willimas, a Welsh landscape painter or work from The Newlyn School of Art. A morning spent in the Newlyn Art Museum with John was a worthwhile activity.  

It was also interesting to remember that he was red – green colour blind.

Did that help him with navigating as well as in his art appreciation?

EXERCISE

I think we will all agree, that until the last few weeks John was remarkably active.

Whether that be cycling around the local countryside with his 92 year old cycling companion, Dick Venables. Racing around Lake Vyrnwy or spending the day digging his vegetables, or mowing the grass.

The Sir John Talbots school gym was another key part of recent years, and the warm down/rehydration at the office aka the White Lion at Ash.

It started back in the mists of time, well Alan can’t remember, but about the start of 2000’s. They used the school gym and then went to refresh at the pub and discuss serious matters of state.

I joined them in 2012 and have since spent most Monday and Wednesday nights there throughout the year, more recently being just the rehydration.

We can’t remember exactly why, but the gym bit stopped, covid shut down or the ageing process, but the pub continued.  

TIME PASSES AND I HAVE’NT MENTIONED OTHER INTERESTS OR THOSE STORIES.  

What about

FISHING around the Loch Inver and NW Scotland area. Many trips and very many stories some to be told, some to be remembered.

CHRIST’S COLLEGE, BRECON where John attended from 1955 to 1959 and subsequently had various custodial roles, becoming the longstanding Chair of the Old Breconians Association and then its President. During this time he was also a member of the Governing Board.

COOKING – his curries with meticulous sourced ingredients were very well received. Ruby chicken and his fluffy rice were his signature creations. By the way, he did have a far wider repertoire than just curry.

SOUTH AFRICA - visiting Helen and her family in Cape Town was a very important and regular occurance. Taking the chance to stay at their home as well as watch sport, go on trips upcountry and visit the vineyards. The contents of his return luggage always sounded very interesting!

Between trips his love and knowledge of wine and a keen eye on the Shrewsbury Majestic or Newport Waitrose bargains, kept the cellar stocked.

CULTURE - his love of history, classical and jazz music, the Keele University lectures (another briefing discussion at the pub)

John’s involvement with Hales Village Fete, including a long stint as chairman. His capacity to charm people from far afield to help was impressive.

Or his dedication to collecting old tools and sewing machines for a South African charity and visits to the WWI metery in France to check his Grandfather’s grave.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

So our plan is to only give a few stories out of so many. We hope they stimulate your memories and get you privately chucking about what you might have done with John over the years. You might talk to others about them at the TERN HILL HALL HOTEL or they might simply be something to enjoy privately to yourselves.

STORIES –

These are various and come from different sources. There are many many more we could have used.

Camborne to Wales on a scooter - as a poor apprentice in Camborne, John was still keen, on occasion, to get home from there to S Wales. How do you get 200+ miles with little money? Buy a scooter and ride it back and to. Some feat for a chap of his size.

Dinghy sail training – When John started to learn to sail with Phil it was in dinghies in the Cornish river estruaries. On one occasion they saw a flock of sea gulls on the water and decided to tack over to them. When they got there, too late they realised the gulls weren’t floating, they were STANDING on a sand bank. They grounded!

One fishing incident - the late-night party with a barn door. One year the gang of fishermen/drinkers met up with a group of Frenchmen here for a wedding reception, still fully equipped with their musical instruments. After a convivial session in the pub, the band was invited back to join them for food. Where to eat it? John was responsible for seating arrangements. His answer?  He removed a nearby barn door and set it up as a communal table.

The other fishing incident, AKA the Fishing Boat incident. Frequently told by several of those involved so you might have heard a slightly different version. But as I have pieced together the crux is;

To improve their chances of success John had brought an outboard motor with him, with a hope a boat would be available for hire.

A boat was soon acquired and the fishermen loaded up and deposited around the loch.

Unfortunately, the boat’s owner had not been told of the plan to hire it. Instead he reported his missing boat as a crime.

Soon enough a WPC arrived in her own boat, found John, who was then required to go back around and pick up the fishermen for onward transportation to Dornoch Police Station.  As part of the questioning, they were asked their jobs. Alan replied GP, even proudly admitting to being a Police Surgeon!! This apparently got them excited. John, ever the diplomat, told them they had also arrested a second GP, Alan’s brother Paul, who had worked previously as a GP in Loch Inver, one Dentist, one Oilman and one Company Director. They were also asked where they had been to school. John answered Darjeeling – when asked how to spell it, he said LIKE THE TEA.

This did not seem to help their cause and a night in the cells followed. But the next day brought better luck, an excellent breakfast and their solicitor was able to explain to the Procurator Fiscal  about the error of their ways. That they had unintentionally borrowed the boat rather than stealing it. Case dismissed with no fine or criminal record.

Upon returning to their lodgings they discovered the WPC who had arrested them had been kind enough to deliver the meat they had purchased the previous day back to the other two folk who had been fishing elsewhere. Sadly too late for them to enjoy it as they had gone to bed after their 15 mile walk home the previous evening.

5. On the subject of missing dinner - the vanishing Caribbean BBQ. On one leg of the saga, the crew had decided on BBQ steaks and assorted side bits one evening. John proudly set up the BBQ which was fixed to the cockpit rails and all was going well. John, wine in hand, announced that the steaks were ready and the crew excitedly awaited their arrival down below. BUT they never came and on investigation, but without clear explanation from John, the BBQ and our eagerly awaited steaks had fallen in the drink, never to be seen again. John was left holding the tongs.  

There are many more.

How to finish?  Yes, nearly there.

Firstly, I could have said far far more about his life and times. But I will simply state that we were all so shocked when out of the blue John’s illness struck and took him away so quickly.

Those of us who were able to visit him saw the fight in him but it was not to be. In those weeks John received wonderful care from friends and family, the Royal Stoke Hospital but especially the Douglas Macmillan (Dougie Mac) Hospice in Barleston. The care there was professional, but tender kind and compassionate.

To finish I HAVE SOME Summary points. FIRST WORDS WRITTEN BY HELEN ON BEHALF OF JOHN’s CHILDREN. THEIR REFLECTIONS ON THEIR FATHER.

“We feel so incredibly lucky to have had the father that we did. He was kind, generous, patient, the best fun to be around and ultimately just an unwavering supporter in our lives. He left us to make our own decisions (even when at times he may have thought we were crazy!) and would never judge us for our mistakes.

Dad allowed us to feel so secure knowing that whatever happened in life, we were so loved and could always rely on him to be there for us, acting as a champion and always in our corner. Some of our very best times have been around his kitchen table, glass of wine in hand, listening to Dad’s hilarious stories - many of which we would have been told on numerous occasions before - but that we still loved hearing time and again, because Dad was such a brilliant storyteller and you couldn’t help but appreciate his joy for life and the enthusiasm with which he embraced all that he did.  He adored his grandchildren, as they did he. He had so much time and patience for them, and they loved spending time with him playing board games, listening to a story, touring his veggie patch, or with my children showing him their latest dance routines.

Dad seemed to have the luck of the Irish and was never happier than when he managed to “get a deal”. He was an optimist through and through and could find a positive in any situation. He loved to socialise and could always be relied on to add much fun and merriment to any occasion. He seemed to have an unbelievable memory and it always amazed us that he could reel off the names of every person playing in a game of rugby that had taken place 50 years prior, as well as remembering who everyone’s girlfriend at the time was, and which bar they went to afterwards!

 We are going to miss our Dad so much, but take great comfort in knowing that he really did seize every opportunity given to him and that he lived his life to the full. He was so loved by friends and family alike and we are so very proud of him. We just wish we could have had him for longer because in our eyes, he really was the best.”

As TOM WILSON also said to me, John was a kind, gentle man – with a generous nature, ready conversation, good humour and excellent counsel. Never blaming, always smiling.

SO HOW DO I FINISH OFF?

John was someone who managed to pack much into his life and he had a profoundly positive affect on many people. He was someone who was well worth knowing. I feel privileged, as I am sure everyone here does, to have been lucky to meet and enjoy his company – perhaps for me lucky to have done that in his later CALMER years – others will know better the earlier years. Oh and don’t forget that fantastic hair style with an enviable quiff.

Thank you.