John Lay ( far left ) at the Old Johnsonians Reunion , 2018
JOHN LAY 1934-2021
When John Lay was tackled and fell in a club rugby match in 1965 his opponent promptly sat on him . That player , a doctor , recognising that John had broken his neck , immobilised him until the ambulance crew arrived . John spent six months in hospital on traction . He made a full recovery .
Born into a family of publicans , John Alfred Gordon Lay started boarding school at the age of five . At Sevenoaks , he was in Johnsons and excelled in sailing and rugby . He learnt to fly in Africa at an RAF station in Rhodesia , piloting Harvards , and was commissioned . He spent his working life with a firm specialising in hotel equipment . He was a qualified chef and built a rapport with head chefs at leading London hotels .
Married for 62 years to Ann , they shared a love of horses and dogs and were a tennis couple ; they had a daughter and a son , three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren .
John rowed in regattas but his passion was long-distance walking . He was group secretary of the Ramblers , organising Punchbowl marathons , and was Chairman of Staines Ramblers until 2020 . He took part in two 100-mile treks in under 40 hours in his 70s .
In January 2021 Covid-19 struck . John , his wife Ann and their daughter Katie were all in hospital . Ann died after five days , Katie was released quickly but struggles with Long Covid a year later . John had three spells in hospital battling to breathe . He was 86 .
Colin Neilson ( Johnsons 48 )
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