'Big-John' Small (1 Jul 1926 - 28 Jun 2021)

In loving memory of 'Big John' Small who sadly passed away peacefully on 28th June 2021, at home with his family. Nearly 95 years old, John had lived long and well and while immensely sad we think we should celebrate his life rather than memorialise his death.

John was know by many people on Canvey Island having lived there since the late '60s and jointly creating Steve's Taxis. Until he retired he had many different jobs from Glass Blower to School Caretaker and spent some of his spare time clearing many a used drink can from the Islands streets and seafront long before people started talking about recycling.

John had saved all this working life and so spent his retirement gardening and going on holiday - or at least that's the way it seemed. The Small family holiday was always in the UK until his son and daughter decided to get an 40th Anniversary gift of a trip to Jersey from Southend Airport. This was the start of many, many trips abroad, Spain becoming their favourite destination.

When John was in his early 80s he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (having smoked for over 40 years it was a wonder it wasn't his lungs) and underwent the treatment at Southend Hospital. In typical Big John way he beat Prostate Cancer and it didn't bother returning!

John had a long and successful marriage to Jean of over 50 years until his beloved wife passed in 2008. This devastated him and he was a shadow of the bright and talkative man he was before Jean's death.