John Whitlock (OW 1951)

(18 November 1934 – 22 November 2022)

We are grateful to John Banbury (OW 1954) for these words about his friend John Whitlock.

All those who knew John would recognise him as a very humane gentleman. He was kind, approachable, good company and with a twinkle in his eye, willing to discuss any subject with you, local history, sports, photography and travel. He was always ready to give his time and attention to his family and all around him. He could relate to anyone, talking just as happily to younger people as to his own age group and older generations. He was often to be seen in Woodstock driving his powered scooter.

John was born on 18th November 1934 into a farming family in Woodstock. His father, Fred Whitlock, had his dairy farm at Barn Piece in Old Woodstock and produced milk for his milk round, always in glass pint bottles printed with the farm’s name and address on them. During the war he was required to take the address off the bottles in case they fell into the hands of an enemy spy!

His mother, Winnie, was the smartest-dressed woman in Woodstock, never a hair out of place. Fred met Winnie at Young Farmers, married her, and together they set up a milk bar in Oxford Street to complement the farm. This was Winnie’s pride and joy, decorated in the latest streamlined fashion, with shining fixtures and fittings, a clean black-and-white tiled floor, and the best milkshakes and ice cream that money could buy during and after the war. John used to help in the milk bar and the farm.

His first school was just doors from his home – Miss Ward’s School, a small Dame School for 3 to 11- year olds, in a wooden hut behind the Methodist Church in Oxford Street. Taught by Miss Ward, who was the daughter of our local registrar, she had probably just finished teacher training, and looked very old to us children. In fact she was probably just in her 20s.

In his early years John contracted polio, which was quite prevalent in those days, but which left him with a permanent limp. This didn’t seem to affect his love of sports or his military service later in life.

It was during the 1930’s that John joined the Woodstock Borough Council, properly dressed and robed for the occasion and photographed with all the other ‘junior’ Councillors. Miss Ward had kitted out the pupils in robes and hats and they look very impressive in their group photograph.

All the girls and boys were taught in one large room, younger ones on the right of the room, seniors on the left, with a small tortoise stove for heating in the middle. Miss Ward had a reputation for getting her students to good schools in Oxford and around, many getting scholarships or assisted places.

John went to Magdalen College School in Oxford as a day boy at the age of 10 in 1944. After leaving in 1952 he did his National Service in the Army as an engineer, and played a good deal of sports, among them rugby and skiing.

On de-mob he returned to the family farm and milk bar business, and joined the local Young Farmers Club, and that was where he met Barbara, his future wife. They married in 1959 and had 3 daughters, Amanda, Sara, and Susan.

He acquired 17 High Street, now the Opticians, and set up a shop selling toys. He used to keep birds behind the property, having many aviaries both in No 17 and No 19.

He was a Freemason in Woodstock, a connection he kept for 65 years, being Worshipful Master of his Lodge at the age of 31. He was elected to the Town Council and became Deputy Mayor in 1976, but was not able to be Mayor as he moved to New Yatt the following year. His father had been Mayor of Woodstock and was an Alderman when the Queen visited Woodstock.

John and Barbara moved to a farm in New Yatt. He loved clay pigeon shooting and he and his mates formed a Sunday Morning clay pigeon shoot. Of course, afterwards they all retired to the Sadlers Arms in New Yatt to discuss the morning, and many times John got a frosty reception from Barbara when he was very late coming home for lunch.

Later they moved to Thrupp to live next to his family, then to Chadlington, before returning to Woodstock to a third-floor retirement apartment overlooking the water meadows.

His business interests expanded. The family had a car repair shop and Morris Motors concession in Oxford Street opposite the GWR station, and Fred Young served petrol from a hand-wound-up petrol pump from his house on the corner of the station forecourt. The Youngs’ were friends of Lord Nuffield and they used to go out on sporting parties together. When the railway station became redundant Youngs Garages bought the station and the railway embankments and redeveloped their motor business in and behind the station yard.

John joined the business and was so successful that he was invited to become a Company Director, and was in charge of sales and marketing.

He always had time for other activities. He was a member of the Magic Circle, doing magic tricks when in the Army, and was very interested in puppetry. He started with other enthusiasts, the Woodstock Video Club, making many local films of events such as the Wychwood Fayre, the Carnivals, the Parish Church reconfiguration, and country features such as the Oxford Canal and local stone quarries, to show in competitions or for local organisations to enjoy. He later formed the Drone Club using newly introduced camera-mounted drones and was given permission to fly over Blenheim to record the development of the Park, and the dredging of Queen Pool. The Drone Club is still following this project.

He also took an active interest in the ‘Make a Wish” organisation, helping to give special outings to children with life-limiting conditions.

He converted some of Dr Tothill’s old 16mm movie film, taken between 1935 and 1960, into short displays. These documentaries included the Blenheim pageant in the 30s, Marlborough School foundation stone laying in 1939, and the last days of the ‘Fair Rosamund’ railway line, and can be seen in the Woodstock Gallery at the Museum.

He was a member of the Woodstock Swimming Pool fund, raising money in the five years before 1970 by operating the weekly draw. He was also to be seen in all the annual Carnival weeks and Woodstock Carnival parades, from the earliest ones which had large floats, and the pram-races between pubs. They were all great fun and we got our swimming pool in 1970.

He was able to join BBC photographers on an African Safari to capture wildlife photos from close up, an achievement which gave him much pleasure and which he recalled a lot in his final days.

He was an active member of Woodstock Probus Club, joining in 1999, and becoming President in 2006-7. On joining he stated his interests as video photography, sports and travel, all of which he enjoyed to the full.

His wife Barbara died on 15th November 2020 after a long fight against Parkinson’s disease. John had looked after her amazingly with loving care for almost 15 years before she died.

John had been diagnosed with a serious heart condition following a research trial under the NHS. The family are so grateful for the care and kindness given to John in his last weeks by an army of dedicated carers, without which they would not have been able to manage.

Having attended Magdalen College School he became a regular attendee at the Old Waynflete events, and enjoyed the company of his old schoolmates. His last visit there was only two weeks before he died, but he had been looking forward to the event for some time and was so pleased to be able to go.

John lived a full and useful life, and had lots of friends and acquaintances. When someone like John dies, a little light goes out.