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John was a pupil at Alderman Wood school from 1933 - 1937.
He attended junior school, passed the 11 plus exam and went to the local grammar school.
He was doing well with his studies and was proud that after the first year, he was awarded a prize on ‘Speech Day’ for being first in his class.
Unfortunately, at the age of 13, he went into hospital suffering from diphtheria, lost two months of schooling anf this set him behind in his studies.
Just when he was making headway again, at the age of 15, he had to leave school to start work in order to supplement the family budget.
John was called up in April 1942 to serve in H.M Forces. He served for four years in the Royal Naval Air Service, the last
two being overseas, where he served as a leading air fitter onboard HMS Formidable.
John was de-mobbed on 6th February 1946 and on 9th March married Doris at Hobson Methodist Church,
After the war, John had returned to his job as a fitter at the Northern garages in
Bensham but in 1955 he changed jobs and went to work as a fitter in the machine
maintenance department of the new Ransome and Marles bearing factory at
Greencroft. After several years, he was appointed Supervisor and worked in that
capacity until he was made redundant at the age of 59, when the factory closed in 1981.
After living in Tanfield Lea for most of his life (he was brought up in The Crescent and lived in Parkside opposite the Junior School for 56 years), he moved to live with family in Dorset for the last 6 years.
After my mum passed away, he was hoping to get to 100 years old but, unfortunately, came up 3 months short.
He was quite well right up to the end and enjoyed doing the crossword and codeword puzzles every day, listening to classic FM and watching cricket.
In addition, he enjoyed watching Newcastle United, although, in recent times, I think he sometimes saw that as more of a punishment than a pleasure.
David (1968-75) & Stuart (1959-66) Nunn
