John was a unique and long-time colleague and friend. We both met for the first time on 8th May 1961 when we joined Shell-Mex & BP Ltd. on our first day. At the same time, around 0900 on that Monday morning, whilst waiting in the Personnel Dept. reception room, we discovered that we were both born on exactly the same day, 23rd August 1937. In my nearly 86 years I have never met anyone else who was born on exactly the same day as John and so unique is to me exactly the right word. May he rest in peace.