John Henry Hartley 8th October 1924 – 17th November 2016 A tribute by Louise John Mum met John over 40 years ago and after a whirlwind romance of less than 6 months Mum asked me how I would feel if John was to become my step-father. I told her that this was a very bad idea and she was absolutely not to marry him. I am now of course eternally grateful that she completely ignored her 12 year old daughter’s advice! As I begrudgingly grew to discover that John was a kind, fair, loving and fun-loving gentleman with boundless energy. He was a talented Graphic designer and even turned his hand to making furniture and interior design. You can still see logos and package designs that have stood the test of time. Ben told me that when John was designing for Mars he would return from work with bags of sweets and chocolate. Sadly after they married he seemed to be designing only pet food, removing the labels for reference and Mum would unwittingly open a tin of Pedigree Chum for tea!!! Happy days for Tessa the dog !!! Pets played a big part in the household and John had a real soft spot for cats. A friend turned up for my 21st Birthday bash with a kitten, this was a pre-arranged deception as John had specified no more pets. He told me that the kitten was to be taken back the next day but for now he would shield it from the party chaos. I found him the morning after chasing silver foil balls around the floor with the little bundle of black fluff. Unsurprisingly it never did get sent back! But that cat never did belong to me and followed John even when he went upstairs to take his routine siesta. Blackie (original name for a black cat!) would pad after John to take a cat-nap too....(Sorry, John would have appreciated that!!!!) John was known in the family for his sense of fun, silliness and competitive love of games and when we all got together for a special occasion I know members of the family (including myself) would hide after the meal as we knew that John would ask. “Who fancies a game of cards?” And a game of cards was a marathon all afternoon event to be taken seriously and played until John won. Not even children were safe; a game of snap was taken as seriously by John as a game of poker for match-sticks. Life at No 40 was a happy hubbub of the comings and goings of family and friends. One of my friends who recently heard our sad news wrote saying... Louise 2 years ago I remember coming to see you at no 40; a legendary location and 2 lovely faces appeared at the door at the same time. It was your mum and John. Two faces still appearing as young and vibrant as I remembered them from decades before. I swear they hadn’t aged since 1985, John had such a warm face and was always the nicest and most welcoming of gentlemen. As the legendary house was often hectic John luckily had a studio down in the cellar so he could escape and concentrate on his paintings, which were detailed still lives and beautifully executed landscapes, painted from areas in and around Henley and places visited on holiday. You can see some of these in the order of service. It was difficult to choose as John has painted so many. No.40 never needed wallpaper as over the years the house boasted wall to wall water colour! As well as painting John had always enjoyed dancing and had medals for ballroom dancing in his younger days so it was no surprise when he took up Salsa. John would grab Mum whilst she was cooking and fancy footwork her around the kitchen in her slippers to practise his latest moves. I think she enjoyed these fun impromptu dances despite her protestations! And if all this didn’t keep John fit enough he was a keen swimmer. John routinely swam every other day, even on holiday and if there wasn’t a pool he’d brave the sea in rain, sleet or rip-tide; with wet suit, swimming hat, nose clips and goggles! Taking a swim in France once he managed to lose his clothes and car keys on a beach and had to wander to the only house in sight for help, there was just a young child playing in the front garden when this strangely attired, other worldly foreigner dripped up to the fence trying to mime his dilemma. I dread to imagine the scenario and luckily the bewildered, awestruck child was saved from this surreal scene by her parents who managed to reunite John with clothes, the car and wife! Through all these experiences, interests, work and even from his school days John had a large circle of good friends, and those who knew him will remember the great pleasure he took in art, attending social events, partaking in a good bottle of wine, sharing a lovely meal and the fun he took in hearing and recounting his cringingly bad jokes! There was even time for smiling during John’s final days. The little trail of paw prints that cats Bonny and Betty left on the covers as they padded to find a cosy spot by John’s side and mum worrying what the nurse would think! John still knew and was happy to see us all but the biggest reaction always came when I arrived with my small Jack Russell, Lyzl, he would beam from ear to ear, seeing him so happy I sat by the bed with the dog tucked under my arm and he raised his hand, ‘How lovely’ I thought, ‘John wants to hold my hand’ He actually wanted to stroke the dog!!! So many great memories and I feel we were all lucky to have shared in his joy of living the life he made.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to John. 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.

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.