John Beetlestone (14 Jan 1934 - 2 Mar 2025)

In loving memory of John Beetlestone who sadly passed away on 2nd March 2025

John was born on 14.1.34. He spent his early years in Bletchley and Buckingham (living with his grandparents, who ran The Woolpack Inn, during the war years). Having passed his 11+, he travelled, by steam train, between Bletchley and Buckingham to attend The Royal Latin School (where he met his future wife, Jean).
Aged 15, he joined the Royal Navy (on the suggestion of the local vicar). Here he trained as an electrical artificer, at HMS Collingwood in Portsmouth, and later rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. During his 15 years of service, he travelled far and wide on various ships including minesweepers, frigates and cruisers. For two years, he was based in Malta where Jean & baby Angela joined him and Peter was born.
John and Jean married in 1957 (celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary in April 2024). Immediately, and because of John’s Naval posting to Chatham Dockyard, they moved to Walderslade in Kent where they bought their bungalow (which is still the family home to this day). John turned his hand to anything and everything. He built furniture for the house and garden, a greenhouse, sheds, sandpits, swings, planted trees, created a large vegetable plot and always decorated the house. Together, he and Jean created a wonderful home in the countryside (as it was then).
Aged 30, John left the Navy and started working as a test systems engineer for Elliot Bros (now known as BAE Systems). He continued to work for the company until his retirement over 30 years later.
Over the years, John owned several motorbikes which he would use for travel to work or to local sports venues. Sport was always a great passion of his especially Kent County Cricket Club, Aston Villa FC and England Rugby Club. Twickenham was one of his favourite places to be on a match day.
After retirement, John and Jean spent many happy holidays cruising in almost every continent of the world. Back on the water and visiting places he hadn’t been to before!
His love of family, and joy at spending fun times with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, was a pleasure to witness. Nothing pleased him more than making people laugh.