John Porcher
| John Edward Porcher | |
|---|---|
 John Porcher | |
| Born |
15 July 1929 Cuffley, Hertfordshire |
| Died |
20 November 2003 (aged 74) Pilgrim Hospital, Boston |
| Cause of death | Following a stroke |
| Education | Conway School; Boston Grammar School (1939-1945) |
| Occupation | Marine engineer |
| Employer | J J Dewhurst; RAF; Boston Diesel Engine Company |
| Spouse | Janet Clarke |
| Children | Clare, Louise, Edward |
| Parents | Ted Porcher; Maud |
| Relatives | Two grandchildren (and another on the way) at time of death |
John Edward Porcher was educated at Boston Grammar School (1939-45). After leaving school he started work in Stamford with a firm of engineering merchants. As things turned out, this gave a clear indication of the type of career that he would develop.
He served two years with the RAF, starting his basic training in Bridgnorth and ending up in Henlow, Bedfordshire. On discharge he went back to his job in Stamford, where he stayed for 18 months, before leaving to set up his own engineering business.
He started on Boston Dock, as a marine engineer and the business grew. Much of his time was taken up on board ships.
The business developed and moved from marine to general engineering, manufacturing equipment especially for the food industry. Most items were made to meet specific requirements of individual customers.
John sold the business as a going concern in 1989. And so went into a busy retirement.
Obituary
From the Autumn/Winter 2003 issue of The Old Bostonian, by his son Edward
John Porcher, 74, passed away in Pilgrim Hospital, Boston on 20th November 2003 after a short illness.
John was born on 15th July 1929 in Cuffley, Hertfordshire. His parents, Ted and Maud Porcher, came from the Boston area and Ted's work brought them back to Boston in 1933 when John was just 4 years old.
John was educated at Conway and Boston Grammar Schools. During the war years a lot of his spare time was spent helping his father with the war effort including the Home Guard and the ATC. He loved music and at that time he was the drummer in a popular local jazz band called the Sherwood Boys Band, notable for playing through the night at the Sherwood Boys Club, in Field Street to celebrate VE day in 1945.
On leaving BGS in 1945 John started work in sales at J.J. Dewhurst[1] in Stamford. In 1947, aged 18 he was called up for National Service, joining the RAF for two years. He returned to Dewhurst for a short time before setting up the Boston Diesel Engine Company in 1950 in the buoy yard on Boston Docks. Expansion resulted in the company relocating to St Johns Road in 1977. John continued in business there until his retirement in 1989.
John met his wife-to-be, Janet Clarke, at a dance on New Year's Eve 1952 at Boston's Assembly Rooms. They married in 1960 and spent 43 happy years together, during which time they had three children: Clare, Louise and Edward. John was happiest when he had his family around him and was proud to see his children married to Andrew, Christopher and Natalya. He was delighted to welcome Andrew's children, Laura and Thomas into the family. John had always looked forward to being a grandfather and was thrilled when Daisy and James were born in 1999 and 2002. He was looking forward to being a grandfather again in December 2003.
Janet and John thoroughly enjoyed their retirement. They travelled together for holidays and short breaks both in this country and abroad. They have always been the greatest of companions, sharing many interests.
Throughout his life John was actively involved with various Boston organisations including Round Table, Masons and The Big Dealers as well as being a life long Conservative. After his retirement he was able to devote more of his time to supporting the Conservatives and the OBA, taking on the Presidency for 5 years between 1997 and 2002. As President, John's major achievement was taking the Association through its centenary year in 2000, having Barry Spikings as speaker at the annual dinner, and masterminding the mini-museum at the school.
A man who lived life to the full, he will be best remembered for his love of his family, his sense of humour, his passion for music and for being one of life's true gentlemen. He will be very sadly missed. John's funeral took place at St Thomas' Church, Boston...
John's motto - "Accept life firmly".
Jazz
by Paul Mould for the Boston Standard in 1997 following the death of Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott, one of the truly greats in jazz over the last 50 years, was found dead in his Chelsea flat on 23 December. The Ronnie Scott Jazz Club in Soho was the Mecca for all jazz fans and every star performer in the world had appeared there.
Believe it or not, when he was 18, Ronnie Scott lived in Boston. He was a member of the resident band at the Gliderdrome[2] in 1945/46 - "Johnny Clay and his Clay Pigeons". He was already a virtuoso on the tenor saxophone. He also played with Bob Kitchen (piano), Malcolm 'Mousey' Hall (double bass), and Johnny 'Scorcher' Porcher (drums) in the Rugby Room of the Peacock and Royal Hotel[3]. Bob, Mousey and Scorcher are all OBs.
Our very own Horace Battram was a keen member of the Boston jazz fraternity. He it was who organised the sessions in the Rugby Room. His brother-in-law, Bill Blake, was manager at the P and R.
John Porcher added to the story in the February 1997 issue of The Old Bostonian
He and two others, all three BGS and aged about 15, used to ge together for jazz sessions. Whilst still at school they formed their own group and played regularly at the Sherwood Club in Field Street. The three were 'Johnny' Porcher on drums, [[Malcolm Hall|'Mousey' Hall' on double bass and Bob Kitchen on piano (later in life Bob became the caretaker at BGS). Eventually the three were joined by Reg Howard, a fine tenor sax player. Reg was not ex-BGS.
The summer of 1945 was extremely busy for the group. The VE celebrations found them very much in demand and they played frequently at venues in Boston.
References
- ↑ Duddington Mill - Historic England
- ↑ The Gliderdrome
- ↑ The Royal Coat of Arms - Old Boston