John Tottle (Passed away 13 Apr 2021)

Dr John Allan Tottle, MBBS (U. Lond), MRCS, LRGP (Lond.), DPH, RCPS (Eng) (Husband of the late Margaret) of Wembdon, Bridgwater passed away peacefully on 13th April 2021 aged 93. Dear and loving Father to the late Graham, Paul and Anne. He will be sadly missed by his Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, family and friends. A private family funeral service will be held. For those who wish to watch the live stream can do so on the following link https://evt.live/funeral-service-for-the-late-dr-john-alan-tottle. Donations if desired to the Royal National Institute for the Blind and The Royal British Legion can be made online at www.hbiffen.co.uk or sent to H Biffen & Sons Ltd. 32 Wembdon Road, Bridgwater Tel: 01278 423333

My Father

Many of you will know me, but for those of you who don’t, my name is Anne and I am the youngest of the children. My eldest brother, Graham, sadly passed away in 1990. Paul was unable to make the journey from Australia. I myself, have come from Australia, and have been on a journey of revelation as I have sorted through Dads personal effects.
My father was an amazing man, and I am so proud to be his daughter. Born in May 1927, he grew up in Bridgwater, attending Dr Morgans Grammar School. He was an excellent scholar - I have had the opportunity to read some of his school reports, as well as a musician and sportsman.

After school, he studied medicine at the University of London and met my mother at Charing Cross Hospital, where she was a midwifery sister and was teaching him how to deliver a baby. It is a funny thought to think their eyes met across the delivery room. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and held the rank of Captain. Thankfully, he missed being sent abroad to Korea in 1954, as he had 24 hours leave to attend the birth of my eldest brother. Otherwise, we may not be here today, and you would not be listening to me. Dad moved into General Practice in Hemel Hempstead, before moving to Bridgwater in 1974, at Parkway Surgery until his retirement in 1987. He continued with medical work, doing medicals for war pensions and disability allowances until 2005 and declining health forced him to give up.
Dad played the saxophone, and I only found out this past week, that he and the band he played with, had performed at the Bristol Hippodrome. My brothers and I, although we learnt the piano, and I screeched on the violin, and Paul tried and squeaked on the clarinet, have not inherited his musical talent.

Dad loved his sport, and played Rugby for Dr Morgans, Old Morganians and Bridgwater and Albion. I found old match programmes, dating back to 1943. He was a supporter of Old Morganians. After rugby came golf at Enmore Park Golf Club and then Bowling at Eastover Bowling Club where he was a Trustee until 2005, following in his father’s footsteps. Dad introduced me to golf, but I have yet to attempt bowling. Both my brothers played rugby. He would watch all the international matches on television and have frequent discussions about the outcome. It was always a tense time when England and Ireland (Mum being Irish) were playing and the lounge was divided into opposing sides.
Dad was a quiet, unassuming man, kind and gentle, never raised his voice, and if he spoke sternly, which was rare, we as children would certainly, sit up and listen. He also had a great sense of humour, which showed through in many conversations and speeches he made at family events. One of the most recent I recall is when Mum and Dad had come to Australia in 2012 for their grandsons' wedding. One evening we were having a family dinner and talking about our ancestry – English, Irish, Welsh, Australian etc. Dad sat quietly listening before making the following statement “at the end of the day, you are all a bunch of mongrels”. He certainly had a great way with words. His grandchildren frequently comment about his sense of humour and turn of words. He loved poetry, and read avidly. He was always abreast with the latest news.
Since Mums passing, Dad had planned a trip to Australia last year, before Covid took the world by storm and put pay to that. It has been a difficult 15 months, with travel affected by the virus. Isolation in itself presents loneliness, and I know that Dad felt very lonely after Mum died – it would have been their 70th wedding anniversary this year on 22 September. They balanced each other very well, through the good and the bad times, a better example would be hard to find.
We are now able to find comfort that they will be reunited together once more in heaven, and watching us. So the message I would like to leave you with is a little moto Dads used to say (I think they came from his mother) first is:-
“Do your best, and then better your best”
We love you, Dad.