It was on a Sunday when I first met John.  Jane, whom I went to college with had invited me home for the quintessential Sunday Lunch. I had left home in the Far East to study in London and occasionally felt lonely and homesick. pining for my parents, brothers, sister and friends.

Little did I know that it was on that fateful Sunday that I was about to meet my English 'family' complete with a set of relaxed loving parents and equally amazing sisters in the form of Jane, Sarah and Maria.  There were no formalities and they made me feel immediately at home. It was what I later came to know as a 'warm and fuzzy' feeling which John and Julie were so good at dishing out.

John took great interest in my family and often asked about them whenever we met. Over lunch, John would recount stories of his taxi journeys and passengers and I don't know if you have heard the one when he had to drive someone down South and did not get back home until the small hours the following morning.  Such was the magnitude of John's kindness and the care and love for a fellow human being that he would disregard his own preoccupation and help anyone in distress.  

The Chinese show love through their offerings of food and John loved to offer taxi rides.  On many late afternoons usually in the autumn or winter months after tea and cake at Hendon, John would, without fail, on his evening shift, drive me home back to my London flat, sometimes with Julie, Jane and Jock in tow, if he was not going to work.  It reminded me so much of home when friends and family often find it hard to part and as a result, tend to prolong that feeling of togetherness even when bidding farewell by driving friends home.  I never forgot those journeys and often think of John when I drive home in the dark after work, staring at the lights and stars and feeling that great sense of love.

Years passed as we grew up and carved our careers. I kept in touch and we would meet from time to time.  I never expected John and his taxi would play the most memorable part on the day I got married.  On the 22nd August 1995, John turned up with Julie and Jane in his taxi, all polished and shiny, be-ribboned and decked with fragrant flowers inside, ready to drive me to Richmond, Surrey to be married. 

A London taxi for a wedding carriage must surely be the coolest thing anyone could ask for and driven by someone I admired, loved and respected was the highlight of my day.  John certainly knew how to make one feel on top of the world and to this day, whenever I spy a black taxi, I think of John, whose love of life was evident in the millions of things, little and large, he did for all he  knew and loved.

My greatest regret is not being able to spend some time with John owing to the difficult times we now live in. I had planned to visit as soon as Jane told me they were moving again to a place near the sea. Dreams of walking along the beach, catching up on good times and maybe even having a picnic were dashed as I received the sad news that John would soon be leaving us. I would like to think he had gone to prepare the best place for all of us when we next meet him.  

There are countless events and numerous people we remember but I know I will never forget John as I realised '... all kinds of everything remind me of him.'

snowdrops and daffodils, butterflies and bees...

sailboats and fisherman, things of the sea,

wishing wells, wedding bells, early morning dew...

seagulls and aeroplanes, things of the sky...

winds that go howling, breezes that sigh,

city sights and neon lights...

grey skies or blue,

all kinds of everything remind me of you.

summertime, wintertime, spring and autumn too...

Monday, Tuesday, everyday, I'll think of you.

dances, romances, things of the night...

sunshine and holidays, postcards to write,

budding trees and autumn leaves,

a snowflake or two...

all kinds of everything,

remind me of you.