JOHN VICTOR FOXFORD
1935 – 2006
 On 29th December 2006 a packed St Giles’ Church overflowed into the Church Hall to pay tribute and respect to a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
John was born of Welsh parents in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He had one younger sister, Christine, who emigrated to Canada over 40 years ago. She sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2004.
He was evacuated to Wales during the war where he started school. His senior education was at St Clement Danes School. He had the honour of becoming one of the first Queen's Scouts and was on duty outside Westminster Abbey during her Majesty's Coronation.
At 17 John started an apprenticeship at Hoover Limited and that is where Bobbie came in. She worked in the Mailing Department and always seemed to bump into him on the back staircase!
John was very much into sports - swimming, playing basketball and rugby for the Company. He was, much later on, to become a London Society Rugby referee.
The other love of his life, apart from Bobbie, was his motorbike. He was the proud owner of a Triumph Thunderbird.
After about 18 months John decided to sell the bike for an MG sports car. The first owner was registered to a certain Tommy Trinder in 1939. John then decided he would like to get married to Bobbie so the two of them were engaged on his 21st birthday and they were married six months later on her 18th. They honeymooned on the Isle of Wight.
In 1960, they moved to their first house in Milverton Drive. Michael was born in 1962 and almost two years later they were blessed with Jackie. A larger house became necessary and they purchased a property in Vinlake Avenue.
John was working his way up through the Company and reached the giddy heights of Works Manager. On his appointment he was sent to Cambuslang in Scotland. This was their first departure from Ickenham. They were a family of four going, but coming back two years later they were five. Joanne was born a Scot much to the delight of Bobbie’s dad who hailed from Paisley.
On returning to Ickenham they lived in Roker Park Avenue
It was then that their world turned upside down. John was made redundant after 30 years at Hoover Limited. He stayed positive, and after 5 months he was offered a job in Boston, Lincolnshire - this was departure number two from Ickenham.
They were there for a little under two years, when John was offered a job in Perivale once again - so back they came. This time they moved into Warren Road and John was invited to join Rotary. However, his new job didn't pan out as well as he hoped and he became very disillusioned, so he looked around for another opening.
This time the move took them to Banstead in Surrey. John joined Rotary in Carshalton Beeches and became its President in 1999/2000.
John's final paid employment was as Managing Director of Direct Services at Merton Council. So after 13 years in Surrey they decided that the only place in which to retire was of course Ickenham.
For two years John was an advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau. He was accepted back into Elthorne Hillingdon Rotary, he joined Probus, and he and Bobbie joined Swakeleys Bowls Club, where it wasn't long before he became Honorary Secretary and was very much involved in trying to save the Green. Bowls become a way of life and added yet another circle of friends.
John was asked to join the Abbeyfield Society in an advisory capacity and became its Chairman. The house in Court Road had major adaptations carried out last year so he was able to see the benefits to the residents of whom he had become so fond.
Although John was a busy man he always made time for his family. He was very proud of his children and their achievements.
To Bobbie and her family we extend our sincere condolences on their loss. The community shares their grief and mourns the passing of a man who made a real impact for good amongst us.
Abridged and edited from Bobbie Foxford’s eulogy.
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