Well-known estate agent dies aged 75

Mr John was born in Fulham, London, and educated at the Elliot School, Southfields, West London. During the wartime Blitz he was among youngsters evacuated from the capital, first to Worcester and then to Norwich.

He first entered business as a chartered accountant but then turned to estate agency and property management, in the latter role he specialised in nursing and rest homes.

Married in July 1956, he had a son Graeme, born in 1964, and daughter, Heather, in 1970.

He had two grand-daughters, Stacey and Katie.

Mr John's wife, Margaret, died in 2003, aged 67, but in recent years he had lived in Pages Lane with his partner, Doris.

He set up his shop in Sackville Road, Bexhill, after moving house from Wimbledon in 1973 and the business continues to thrive.

Graeme said: "My sister and I have taken over the reins and fully intend to carry on as Dad would have wished."

During the '70s and '80s Mr John was a prominent member of the Sackville Road Traders' Association, serving for a time as chairman and at Christmas often dressing up to play the role of Santa Claus.

Among other activities he helped organise were skittles evenings and exchange visits to France.

A keen golfer until recent years, Mr John played at Highwoods Golf Club, Ellerslie Lane, Bexhill, and was also a founder member, some 30 years ago, of the Four Seasons Golfing Society.

Earlier in his life he belonged to the Roman Catholic social and friendship group, the Catenian Association.

Mr John's funeral will take place at St Mary Magdalene's Catholic Church in Sea Road, Bexhill, on Wednesday, April 28, at noon, followed by interment at Bexhill Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been made through Bexhill Funeral Service and donations invited in aid of the Prostate Cancer Charity.