I have never known a harder working man or a more honest person than John.  He was reared with a sister and nine brothers on a small farm in county Meath where they learned to be industrious.  At the age of ten with a brother and their collie they walked the 24 miles to the Dublin market with a score of bullocks.  If buyers were few and prices low they just had to walk them back home again.

Like many youngsters  John had to emigrate to Britain for the chance of a decent living.   He soon found it in Yorkshire and never spared himself.   Whenever John saw something that needed doing - he did it without a thought for his safety.  Once when assisting a J.C.B. driver  the bucket got wedged between rocks.   He instantly jumped into the hole and freed it.   As it moved he sustained multiple fractures that would have killed lesser men.   Brave doctors and nurses in Gobowen Hospital, Oswestry  recognised a fighting spirit.   After two months in intensive care and a further five recovering from many operations he was back at the work he loved.    No job was too small, too big or too dangerous.  Eventually with the help of one great woman called Clarice  he established a major site clearance,  demolishing,  construction, restoration,  road making  and building business.