John was born and grew up in Southwell, attended the Minster Grammar School and was ultimately appointed as Head Boy. He returned to the school as a teacher of Mathematics before taking up a number of posts in other local schools, culminating in his appointment as Head of The Joseph Whitaker School in Rainworth, a large 11-18 mixed comprehensive. He served there as a successful Head for almost 20 years.
Part of his vision for the school was to promote it as a specialist sports college using his love of sport as a means of raising academic achievement and promoting a healthy lifestyle to young people. John’s involvement in sport encompasses serving on the national Rugby Football Union Council for six years from 1995, just as the amateur game became professional.
He has served on the Diocesan Board of Education and is currently a member of the Southwell & Nottingham Educational Trust.
In 2013 he was appointed to the Cathedral College of Canons as an Honorary Lay Canon where he hoped specifically that his experience of education would allow him to make a contribution to easing some of the considerable challenges that our young people face in difficult economic times.
