John is a former director of Brockhole Outdoor Centre, Brockhole, fell runner, author on Lake District subjects and activity holiday leader.
John was born in North Yorkshire in 1928, and went to a grammar school in Carlisle, before going on to study at Durham university after doing his national service.
One of John's first experience’s of the Lake District fells was climbing Scafell Pike in 1943, after which he became a keen fell walker and runner, taking part in the 1st Lake District Mountain Trial when it started up in 1952.