A LONG, purposeful and busy life, much loved and respected family man and one who will be remembered as a good friend was how John Hosker was described at the celebration of his life.
The celebration began with Leslie Sarony’s "Ain’t it Grand to be Bloomin’ Well Dead" which John had thought hilarious and which somewhat set the ground for the proceedings which ended with an Edmundo Ross piece and included "The Dam Buster’s March" by Eric Coates, plus two poems.
Alison said John had a gift for living life to the full - he enjoyed flying, blue water sailing, camping and later, heritage steam railways.
Born in Cheshire, John was one of six children. When he was two, his father decided to move to Wales to farm.
Being the only English speaker in his class, John quickly learned Welsh. An academic boy at heart, he loved school and at his secondary school in Fishguard, he shone at maths and science.
John read civil engineering at Swansea University, joined Haverfordwest Flying Club, gained his pilot’s licence in 1961, then his gliding certificate. He loved flying.
He worked as a structural engineer in Swansea and Birmingham, met Ann in Swansea and they were married in Reading. One daughter, Jane was born in Wales, her sister Margaret was born after they moved to Crediton.
He enjoyed his garden, had joined Exeter and District Model Engineers Society, building and maintaining model steam engines which he took to various fairs and fetes, giving rides for children helped by friends.
Alison said that John had believed in living life to the full with his daughters having fond memories of weekend outings such as to the beach, walking or visiting National Trust properties.
John became interested in sailing and tall ships, sailing on many boats and helping in a large way to restore a wooden boat.
By then he had retired, become a grandad, enjoyed visiting and working with heritage steam train groups and joined Tiverton and District Model Engineer’s Society.
Alison said that John will be remembered as a warm and dedicated family man and an interesting and treasured friend, intelligent and well read, practical and resourceful who achieved a lot in his life.
As comfortable at the helm of a boat or at the controls in the cockpit of a plane as he was at the head of his family. A dependable to reliable presence in many lives who gave good advice whether it was wanted or not, not taking himself too seriously and with a good sense of humour. A giant in more ways than one, said Alison.
Donations were for the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway and for Parkinson’s Research.