The first time I met John was when I was 13 and I was attending my first Hill House Old Boys’ Association Xmas Dinner in 1963. I saw this man sitting on the top table – he was the Secretary at the time! – and with his rather NHS style spectacles and Mr. Pastry hair style I thought he looked about 60 at the time!!!
He was actually 33!

After I left school I followed in JSM’s footsteps and took over the Secretary’s job from him. I then became involved with Doncaster Town CC in 1968 and of course JSM was a staunch member of the Hockey club. Bearing in mind that he was Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman and President during his years with DHC he did well to find time to actually play! And of course woe betide any youngsters who were given lifts in his car for their first game with the Club and were treated to their first taste of alcohol on the way back before being dropped off at home to somewhat flabbergasted parents……..!!!!

It may have been John’s influence that I became a firm DHC supporter and with Mike Cattrall’s association with Hall Cross Schools’ hockey I was entrenched in biennial school tours to Holland and Oxford during the Easter holidays which threw up many stories about JSM’s escapades……..!!!! I couldn’t put those into print I’m afraid but when we meet up to celebrate his life when normality resumes, we will be spending many many hours relating them all!

Having read all the tributes that have flowed on Facebook, texts, messages etc that sprang up from his very sad demise there were several similar comments: “He was a true gentleman” “He was a great man” “He was a lovely man” “He was a great talisman for the Club” etc etc etc. But the irony for me was that he was an incredibly private person even though he would talk to anyone anywhere – even in Africa for Simon and Vick’s wedding after being told not to go through a dangerous area where the tribes were carrying spears….! JSM would have struck up a conversation like “Nice spear there. Did you make it yourself?” before open-mouthed tribesmen would watch him walk through their village!

He safeguarded his own privacy but when with a crowd of friends he would be the life and soul of the party, talking to friends and foes alike without any enmity at all. And if he did become angry, he would rant for about 10-15 seconds before retaining his wonderful smile and started laughing!

He was a very active person and partook in half marathons as if they were a 100 yards race! When Brooksie asked him to take the “boys” for an early morning run before breakfast at an away match in the National League he became very uneasy when they hadn’t returned after an hour and a half. When they did Brooksie enquired as to where they had been and John just replied “I was stationed at Aldershot Barracks during my National Service and I thought I’d show them around the place…….!!!!!!”. Typical! They weren’t warmed up they were knackered!

John’s travelling jaunts were of course a great part of his life. I’m not sure about North America but he certainly did all the other continents and most of the countries around the world. A day trip to Albania was an interesting idea…..! And he was quite happy being the only one taking an excursion to Shanghai when in China but trying to do a runner from a Chinese Restaurant at the age of 70 or so might not have been recommended in the travel brochure!

John lived life to the full but at the centre of it all was Hockey – plus a few cricket matches with Yorkshire and England of course where John was often regarded as their mascot! – and it played a massive part of his life. He would be a daily visitor to the Club for a pint – or two or three! – where he would stand at the bar and discuss any topical subject and not be afraid to put forward his views. He was very proud to be the President when Yorkshire won the County Championship with a number of DHC players being involved. But he was equally as proud that DTCC won at Lords in 1998. He was a proper DTFSC Chairman even though he sometimes sat a little bit on the fence…….!!!!

When John had his difficulties in the early part of 2019 his participation in the Club took a step backward and he decided that he could not look after himself at home and he went to St. Mary’s Home where his mother had gone. However, with the help of a couple of DHC stalwarts he found Elm Park Care Home in Woodlands where he was able to live a more peaceful life in wonderful surroundings. And there he stayed until he picked up some problems a couple of weeks ago. Those led to his being hospitalised and at the end he declined the offer of more treatment by the doctors as I’m sure that he felt that he didn’t want to cause fuss and bother and he wanted to have a peaceful exit from this world which then ensued shortly after.

John led a wonderful life and was an example to us all in many places and many ways. We shall all miss him greatly but he will never ever leave our thoughts. Thanks John for being John Marshall. RIP.

Tim Hawkins