John Clough Ellis (FS 45-50).

The following notice was submitted by John’s niece, Moira Ellis.

“John Clough Ellis, was born in Formby, Lancashire 7th February 1932 and attended St Bees from 1945-1950. Following his years at the school, he was called up into the Royal Artillery 73rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) regiment at the age of 18. He served with the British Army in Egypt for two years. During those years, John met up with his brother, David Ellis (Foundation South 1944-1949), in the Suez Canal Zone during the disturbances. The brothers were only approximately 20km apart and used to gather with each other and with some Formby friends.

In 1953 at the age of 21, John met his future wife, Barbara Cartwright, at an evening dance ball in Bootle in Liverpool. In February of 1955 he began working with an import company in Nyasaland, now known as Malawi, Africa. Barbara joined him later that year and they were married on the 17th of December 1955.

In 1959, after his four-year contract expired, John returned to England. He was offered a position at the end of 1959 with Shell Ltd in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He was then transferred to Blantyre in Malawi in 1968 where he had some amazing adventures such as walking down hippo trails and encountering crocodiles in Lake Shire, while ending the day with a gin and tonic and his favourite piri piri chicken at the local Limbe Club.

After transfer to Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1971, he moved again, this time to Cape Town in 1978 where he remained for the rest of his life, having worked in various sales management positions for thirty four years.

On his retirement in 1992, he and Barbara travelled extensively to Namibia, Okavango in Botswana and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park as well as on trips home to the UK, Israel and Turkey. Due to the climate in Cape Town, John actively played lawn bowls throughout the year.

He was famous for his funny limericks and could rattle one off on the spur of the moment, leaving friends and family in stitches.
John passed away in South Africa on the 14th of April 2020. He is survived by his dear wife Barbara, his son Peter (m. Mandy), his son William (m. Sheila) and his four grandsons Gareth and Justin, Dylan and Matthew.”

Photos may be seen by clicking here.

 

Home

The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk