John moved to Woodingdean in 1953 and joined the Woodingdean Community Association in 1967 by helping set up a Youth Club.  He is the WCA President and Vice-Chair.  In 1977 John got involved in Woodingdean Swimming Pool, later becoming the Treasurer until its recent closure.  He has been helping to organise Woodingdean Carnival every year since 1980.  In recent years John has joined the Woodingdean Tenants' & Residents' Association as a member, which led him to the Newsletter Group and Woodingdean website.

In 2010 John became a Director of the Java Community Cafe, and in November 2011 I became a Trustee for TDC.  In March 2013 John became president of Woodingdean Conservatives.

He still very much believes in the community, and in village life in Woodingdean.