John Kenneth January – MdA 49-56

Submitted by son, Mike January

John of Redcar, Teesside passed peacefully on Sunday 1st March,2026 at Yew Tree Care Home aged 87 years old. John was born at home in Newbury on 12th October 1938, the only son of Charles and Edith January. Charles, a painter and decorator, fought in Ceylon and the Far East during WWII, which meant he was later returning home than his European counterparts as the war continued after the Victory in Europe campaign.

John attended St. Nicholas School in Newbury, upon leaving on a scholarship from the Mayor’s Office for CH, the Head, Mr Pyke remarked -’I would like to see you give of your best at Christ’s Hospital and you will climb to Fame and Fortune’! John boarded at CH from 1949-56, on leaving it was noted that he was ‘very pleasant and suited to responsibility’….

John undertook an apprenticeship with the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell from 1956-61, combining this with reading Chemical Engineering at Birmingham 1958-61. Whilst studying John met Tessa, a radiographer and they were married in 1963, Stephen arrived in 1964 and twins Robert and Michael in 1967.

In 1966, John relocated the family Up North, working for ICI at Billingham on Teesside. Tessa sadly passed away in 1974, aged just 34 years old. John combined work with bringing up 3 boisterous (but very polite!) boys, retiring from ICI in 1992, finishing his career as a Plant Manager on an experimental nylons project on Wilton site.

John remained in Redcar until his death, dabbled as a financial consultant, too honest for the hard sell he finally retired for good in the mid-90’s.He enjoyed walking and the countryside as part of various North Yorkshire groups, he joined the Redcar Debating Society and Philatelic Society also, and maintained an extensive stamp collection. John took to travelling Europe, initially by car, later by air, exploring off the beaten track and trying new cuisines. John loved watching 5 Nations rugby, having played for Newbury Colts and Moseley 3rds in his earlier years

John collapsed on Christmas Eve 2016, later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia he remained in care until his death, he still liked a full cooked breakfast every day with copious amounts of tea, and enjoyed with visitors a fine wine, a decent beer or his favourite tipple, Chartreuse. John’s years at Christ’s hospital shaped his life and that of his 3 sons, regarded by colleagues and friends as ‘a gentleman and a scholar’, until his health deteriorated, he enjoyed visiting Horsham site and attending get-togethers with North Yorkshire Old Blues. Gone but never forgotten. Rest In Peace JKJ.