In 1997 my wife Liz and I traveled from deepest Herefordshire to East Anglia to see the Eastern Angles’ production of « The Wuffings ». I remember being introduced to John. He was brimming with energy, smiling and ebullient, busy raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis charity he had been supporting ever since Eileen and Ivan’s son, had been diagnosed. And every time I enquired of Eileen, « How’s John Ryan? » she would tell me he was still busy, still smiling and still raising money. We need more people like John and I am sure he will be, and is, deeply missed. Colin Sanders, Villars, France.

From 1972-1975 I had a 'flat' in John and Margaret's house in Ipswich. I was young, starting my first teaching job and very much overwhelmed and lonely. John was the one who realised some of my unhappiness and sent Margaret up to offer help. From then on I became one of the family. John was a quiet man but he was always very sensitive to the needs and moods of others. He was endowed with a dry sense of humour and fun. I remember one day when the rest of the household all seemed to have other things to do and John invited me to view his homemade wine in the cellar. We ended up sampling the rather delicious, seemingly innocuous sparkling elderflower! After a few glasses the world looked rosy indeed and by the end of the bottle we had exchanged life stories and our take on family, faith and life. The world was definitely set to rights that evening. John was a lovely person and my time in the Ryan household was one of the happiest of my life.

I have very happy memories of meeting Mr Ryan in the early eighties. Eileen reminded me that I always leaned in to catch his drift through that wonderful Irish accent. He created a lovely home for his children and struck me as a hard working, conscientious man of conviction. My thoughts are with Mrs Ryan and the family. Olly xx