Dedicated to the memory of John Bond
This site is a tribute to John Bond, who was born in Bedford on January 15, 1937. He spent his early adulthood as an officer in the Merchant Navy working on Silverline ships and travelling the world. After marrying he came home and trained to be an architect, a job that suited his aptitude for meticulous planning and detail work. With his wife Merial, John spent years building or buying and renovating properties - before it was fashionable to do so. There are several lovely and well built properties in the Bedford and Winchester area which he designed and built himself - he was an extremely hardworking and talented man.
Once the building works became less appealing John and Merial took a radical change of direction and bought a general store for Merial to run. John would get up early in the morning and sort out all the fruits, vegetables and plants, carrying them round to the front of the shop (I think this is where his love of fruit, especially apples, really took flight) and in the evening after cycling back from work he would put them all away again. After they sold the shop John worked as an architect for IBA (which became NTL while he was there) and spent many happy years building and keeping television masts and buildings in top shape.
John was a quiet and extremely kind man who enjoyed the company of friends and especially family - he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. After Merial died in 2002 he moved with his daughter and her husband to a village in Carmarthenshire where he spent many happy hours in his cottage or enjoying the farm life at their smallholding. John was never happier than when he was outside, an apple in his pocket, a dog or two at his heels and his grandson Rory at his side.
Despite suffering from Parkinson's for some years, John kept soldiering on in his usual determined manner with the support of his daughter and son in law and local friends who were always on hand to help out. If anyone wishes to make a contribution in John's memory we would like it to help Parkinson's UK to support other sufferers and to find a cure for this horrible illness.
John is most lovingly remembered and will forever be missed but is now re-united with his beloved wife Merial. Their ashes will be mixed as per their wishes and used to help begin an orchard at the family farm where John spent so many happy times.
The final word should go to John's 8 year old grandson Rory who coined the name Grandin for his grandfather with whom he had a close and loving relationship:
"Grandin won't ever really die because he's in our hearts forever."
Once the building works became less appealing John and Merial took a radical change of direction and bought a general store for Merial to run. John would get up early in the morning and sort out all the fruits, vegetables and plants, carrying them round to the front of the shop (I think this is where his love of fruit, especially apples, really took flight) and in the evening after cycling back from work he would put them all away again. After they sold the shop John worked as an architect for IBA (which became NTL while he was there) and spent many happy years building and keeping television masts and buildings in top shape.
John was a quiet and extremely kind man who enjoyed the company of friends and especially family - he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. After Merial died in 2002 he moved with his daughter and her husband to a village in Carmarthenshire where he spent many happy hours in his cottage or enjoying the farm life at their smallholding. John was never happier than when he was outside, an apple in his pocket, a dog or two at his heels and his grandson Rory at his side.
Despite suffering from Parkinson's for some years, John kept soldiering on in his usual determined manner with the support of his daughter and son in law and local friends who were always on hand to help out. If anyone wishes to make a contribution in John's memory we would like it to help Parkinson's UK to support other sufferers and to find a cure for this horrible illness.
John is most lovingly remembered and will forever be missed but is now re-united with his beloved wife Merial. Their ashes will be mixed as per their wishes and used to help begin an orchard at the family farm where John spent so many happy times.
The final word should go to John's 8 year old grandson Rory who coined the name Grandin for his grandfather with whom he had a close and loving relationship:
"Grandin won't ever really die because he's in our hearts forever."
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We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.
Sent by Parkinson's UK on 07/10/2016
I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.
Extract from a poem by Henry Scott Holland