Jon-Paul's Tributes

"Little miracles happen every day"

I think i met Jon in 1996/7. I had not long moved to Harrow from Kingston on Thames. Jon was one of those laid back easy going kind of guys, One of my many memories of Jon was the amount of jobs he'd had over the years. It seemed he was getting a new job every week. Each job he had, there was something he didn't like or some rule or regulation he was not prepared to put up with. Jon also moved around a bit - i remember him living in places from Watford to Wapping.

One time i had volunteered to take some people with learning disabilities to the Isle of Wight and i didn't have a baby sitter (To take car of my cat) and i asked Jon if he would do it? Jon was never really a pet lover, but he knew my cat and she liked him, so he agreed. I had gone for a week and on my return, Jon said he loved the baby sitting. My cat (Sophie) slept with him on the bed, woke him in the morning for breakfast and i think Jon even took her outside - i lived in a first floor flat then, and taking Sophie out, was not an easy task when it came to getting her to come back in. From that time on, whenever i had to go anywhere, i knew i could call on Jon.

The years went by and as with all London life, we lost touch, but i would often ask friends how he was and had they seen him around. One friend told me Jon was doing well and had settled down with a partner and living in the Eastend of London. With the emergence of Facebook, i thought some-way - some-how, we would get back in touch. It so happens, Jon never had a Facebook account as he preferred to call and email his friends - over the years, mobile numbers change, people move and contacts lost - he had lost all my contact details.

When i heard that Jon had passed, as can be imagine, i was numb with grief - it was the day of his funeral and it was so short notice, i couldn't even make his service or wake. The next day, i went to the Crematorium to see the tributes and to also pay my last respects. I remember seeing the flowers and tributes and it finally sank in that he had truly passed. Jon passed in July and in April of 2011, i had moved to Stanmore - Middlesex. On my way to work, from the time i moved to Stanmore, i would pass by the road where Jon's Mum and Dad live and where he lived too..

I remember one time Jon was going on about this song he had heard. Jon didn't know what it was called or who it was by. Jon had called me and asked if i could give him a lift to - one of his many - job interviews. As Jon got in the car, i was playing the song he was after - Luther Vandross: "Little miracles happen everyday".. I took the C.D. out of the player and gave it to him. Jon was an avid music lover and i believe he would of had this C.D. in his collection right up to the day he passed. I always thought that if i met Jon, even after all the years we had not been in touch (!0 or more years) we would carry on where we left off - after all, this is what true friends do, no explanations, no i'm sorry, just carry on as we left it.. I was truly blessed to of known him and i will never forget him. Antonio Laurence.

Antonio Laurence

January 31, 2012

Jon - An Irreplaceable True Friend

I first met Jon in 1998 and from that day on we were the closest of friends. We both knew that if we needed eachother that we were always there for eachother no matter what.

He was always such a happy person and always saw the best in life and people. I have never met someone so genuine, funny and caring in my lifetime and don't think I ever will again.

Jon will always live on in the minds and memories of all those whose lives he touched.

I wish we had spent more time together had I known how short the time together that we had would be.

Jon, I know that one day our paths will cross again and until that day you will be forever and always in my thoughts.

Love you & miss you.

Jody. x

Jody De Vos (Close Friend)

January 30, 2012