This site has been created in loving memory of John Combes who passed away peacefully in his sleep on 2nd May 2020. Coronavirus-related restrictions mean that John's family are not able to hold a service in church or a wake where special memories would be shared.  The family would therefore be grateful if all who knew John would use this tribute site to share their memories, funny stories (we know there will be some!) and photographs to add to their own and provide a place of warm reflection. 

A lifelong resident of the Mansfield (Notts) area John was devoted to his family.  He adored his wife Jackie, whom he married aged 21 in 1968, and was devastated to lose her to ovarian cancer in 2013.  John and Jackie had two children, Chris and Sue, grandsons Jack and Adam and great-grandson Harry who was born in 2017.

John spent his entire career working for Nottingham City Council, starting out in 1964 as a Trainee Accountant and retiring as Director of Finance. John also tutored at Clarendon college, helping many colleagues through their Association of Accounting Technicians qualifications in the late 70s and 80s. Retiring in 2003 John spent his retirement pursuing various interests and passions; as well as being an avid Nottingham Forest fan, he loved spending time cultivating his established garden, researching his family history, collecting porcelain, sampling single malt whiskies and holidaying abroad with Jackie and the wider family. Also during his retirement he discovered the musical Les Miserables and became a huge fan, seeing the show live several times and often bursting into impromptu song! More recently he took up running at the age of 70, completing 115 Parkruns and taking part in a number of 10k races.

John will be missed by all who knew him and the family have been touched to receive many messages from family, friends and colleagues expressing their condolences and fond memories of how John impacted their lives, in however small or big a way.

The family has deactivated the "donate in memory of" function as this page is intended just for memories rather than condolences, however John's online obituary does contain a link for the family's chosen charities in lieu of funeral flowers at https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/obituaries/77743