John William George Miles (28 May 1936 - 22 Jul 2019)

John was born and lived most of his life in Brighton. He was an only child, and lived with his mum Ivy and dad Bill. Dad was married to our mum, Sheila, he had two children Paul and Tina and loved Jonnie his Grandson. He met mum, at a dance in a youth club and they married in Brighton on the 22nd December 1956 at St Albans church in Coombe Road, Brighton. Dad studied technical drawing at college in Brighton, then did a city and guilds in engineering and became a toolmaker.

He Worked most of his life as an engineer, specialising in toolmaking, he worked for a number of small firms, with Tom and Derek owning the two for which he worked longest. Dad made specialist medical equipment such as the tools that go on the end of endoscopes, highly skilled work that would now be carried out on computer controlled machines. He spent his last few working years as a hospital porter, keeping patients amused whilst transporting them around the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Dad like building and making things, usually for us, radio control boats, bikes etc. He enjoyed music, rock n roll in particular that he used to dance to with my mum, even managing to win a few jive competitions in their time. He enjoyed riding a bike, being a good cyclist in his youth. loved working on cars helping Paul to build and modify many cars. Dad enjoyed photography, processing his own photos in the days before digital, meaning we have lots of photos to help us remember all the good time we had. He was a decent artist and painter, but always claimed he was rubbish. He loved family days out, being a big kid, for example we had many water pistol fights at Chessington World of Adventures and lots of other silly adventures.

Dad loved a Sunday roast, listening to music, dancing with mum, reading books, modelling, tinkering with cars, the odd whisky and spending time with the extended family.

Dad also cared for my mum when she became ill with cancer, despite being looked after by mum all his life, which just proved he could do it when necessary.

Dad was really proud of Jonnie his Grandson who was the last person he remembered until the very late stages of his dementia.

Dad was much loved and will be very much missed.

A Crowdfunding page for donations to Manse Care Home has been set up in John's memory.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johnmiles