Five months short of his 100th birthday in May, John Stanley Higgs died on December 17. A Service of Commemoration at the Holy Cross Church, Crediton, on Saturday, January 28 truly celebrated his life and all he stood for.
The service was led by Rev Preb Nigel Guthrie who said John’s life was remarkable and he would be remembered not only for the friendship and support he offered others but also his passion to see people well cared for in their communities.
He added that for many John seemed to be an immovable part of life in Crediton. Certainly he always greeted one with cheer, in later years usually stopping in his buggy for a natter.
Rev Preb Matthew Tregenza, Vicar of Crediton, led the prayers. Mr Guthrie said how he and Mr Tregenza had the privilege of working alongside John over many years and through his roles with the Crediton branch of the Royal British Legion.
Reading the Address, put together by John’s daughter, Anne, and family, Anne’s partner, Chris Punter, said John had been born in Nottinghamshire where his father was a Civil Engineer in the Highways Department. He would later be appointed a Freeman of the City of London.
Chris said John had excelled at sport, playing rugby for his school, St Albans “the oldest school in the world”, he was an exceptional swimmer and diver, winning competitions at school and in the Army, and a keen member of the Officer Training Corps, rising to the highest rank for a cadet and gaining his Certificate A.
On leaving school, his father wanted John to get a trade before joining the Army. He did an apprenticeship with the General Post Office Telephones, qualifying as an engineer in 1942.
“Very soon his work led him to a callout at Fighter Command; Bentley Priory, where John had to wait for Winston Churchill to leave the room before he could attend to his job,” said Chris.
Two years ago a young telephone engineer had to check the line at John’s home in Crediton. He was astonished to be told that John had already checked it. He knew what to do but had not done it because “I am 98 you know!”
While working for the Post Office, John joined the Home Guard and then the regular Army.
After a brief spell in the Royal Signals, he moved to his County Regiment, the Sherwood Foresters, before the honour of being commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps, entering with the acting rank of lieutenant.
Posted to Palestine, 223 Company RASC (Air Dispatch), John was given command of the Air Transport Training Wing MELF (Middle Eastern Land Forces) in Egypt, where he had several narrow squeaks.
That was where he met Elizabeth Cooke, working as a nanny. They were married in November 1947 at the Church of St Martin in the Sands.
John was demobbed in 1949 and for the next 20 years worked for three companies in the building industry.
In their first three years of marriage, John and Elizabeth moved home 16 times, before arriving at Baguley, Manchester, where they had their only child.
When John’s new job brought them south, the family moved to Shipham in Somerset.
In 1970 John decided to work as an independent Manufacturers’ Agent and, in 1973 amalgamated the business with a similar one in Bristol; Bray Walker Associates, of which he became a director.
Some of his favourite projects included developing access hatches for use on the top of lighthouses, and fitting the roof light over a loo - for the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Then came a partial buyout and in 1976, John decided to take on what remained of the business, relocating to Crediton in 1980 where business was best.
There followed a 20 year association with Ritchlight. In 1983 John retired, Elizabeth sharing with him until her death in 2012.
John became increasingly involved with many organisations in Crediton, was President of the town branch of the Royal British Legion several times, running the Poppy Appeal for many years.
He was chairman of Crediton and District Access Group and Newcombes Patient Participation Group, a member of the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital and its Community Patients, and regularly attended the former Crediton branch of Devon Senior Voice.
He also enjoyed the RASC and RCT Officers’ Club lunches at Norton Manor Camp and was very honoured to receive the Crediton Town Plate in 2014 and be named the Rotary Citizen of the Year in 2019.
Chris added how John “zealous of his unblemished record” had eventually surrendered his driving licence after 80 accident-free years and then, in his 98th year, bought an electric mobility buggy, delighting “in traversing the hills of Crediton”.
Chris added that John had cared very much about anything and everything to do with Crediton, whether it be uneven pavements, equality of access, bin emptying, or the health needs of the elderly, delighting in being among the eldest of the elderly.
On behalf of the Access Group, Francisca van Holthoon read that John was a much-valued friend and active member for many years, a brilliant chairman for 10 years, only retiring when he thought it was time to give someone else the chance to take over.
The tribute continued: “John was a true gentleman with a cheerful smile, always willing to help anyone when he could.”
At the start and end of the service the Standard for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Corps of Transport Standard were carried by Crediton RBL Standard Bearers Mike May and Pam Atkinson.
The Collect of the Royal Corps of Transport was given by Martin Swallow, chairman of Exeter branch RASCRCT Association.
The piece “Sunset” was played on the cornet by John’s daughter, Anne, and “The Blue Danube” was played by John Richards and Pete Popert on guitars and Francisca van Holthoon on violin.
Many people gathered afterwards in the Boniface Centre where a brilliant display of photographs, newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia from John’s life was on display and where Anne had put together a cushion bearing his military cap, medals and badges.
Donations in John’s memory were for the Royal British Legion and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity or may still be given through LeRoy Funerals, 94-95 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LB.
Sue Read