John Barnes (OB 1949-1955)

John Barnes was a solicitor and Immigration judge, pub owner, antiquities collector, an expert on 18th and 19th century glass and long time resident on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. A former President of the Society of Old Brentwoods, he died at his home on March
4th 2025. His funeral took place at Xaghra Parish Church on April 26th. His surviving sibling Michael watched the service on the internet from his home in Australia as did other friends in the UK and abroad.

John was born in Romford to Fred Barnes MBE and Phyllis Barnes on the 13th March 1938. The eldest, he was followed by sister Mary and twin brothers Peter and Michael.

Family life in Romford was very nearly ended by a German bomb—but for a quirk of fate. When the air raid sirens sounded, the family would routinely go to the shelter in the neighbour’s garden. One night in November 1940, John’s mother was in the bath when the sirens went off. Because it was too late to reach the shelter, John and his parents crouched under the dining room table at the front of the house. There was an almighty explosion: a parachute bomb had landed above the back garden blowing off the back of their’s and the neighbouring houses. Those in the air raid shelter were killed while John’s family survived.

John won a scholarship to Brentwood School in 1949, joining West house and the arts stream. He excelled academically and met fellow pupils who would become lifelong friends. Leaving school in 1955, After school, he became an active member of the Old Brentwoods Society, playing football (captaining the 5 th XI), golf and squash---and enjoying post-match festivities. He was a frequent and popular after dinner speaker at Society events and was elected President of the Old Brentwoods Society in 1990.

As a young man, John cultivated a love of good food, not least by exploring Soho restaurants. A summer tour to Brittany on a motorised pedal cycle involved speaking good French and expanding his appreciation of food and wine. This passion continued throughout his life in England and Gozo. Experimental cooking techniques and a bold approach to fare were his hallmarks. Cheeses were always ultra-ripe.

In 1955, his solicitor father Fred wanted to open his own law firm with John joining him. John qualified through spare time study, gaining a London University law degree. F. Barnes & Son solicitors came into being. The practice grew with John’s brother Michael joining. John took over from his father as senior partner in 1990.

His interest in wider areas of the law drew him towards the judiciary. Beginning as a part-time chairman presiding over employment law disputes, he took on a full-time role as an immigration appeals judge in the London tribunals, serving for over ten years. Some of his determinations provide precedents today. After retirement, he travelled to Europe and to New Zealand as a lecturer to immigration professionals.

He married his first wife Barbara in 1960. They had three sons: Simon, the eldest, sadly deceased, Jamie and Adrian. There are six grandchildren and one great grandchild. John and Barbara regrettably separated in the 1980s.

Later, John met Chris, who shared his passion for food, travel and Jazz. Tragically, she passed away suddenly after a few short years. John’s close friends were incredibly supportive and helped him to rediscover his zest for life after a very difficult time.

In the mid-1980s, John took Jamie for a pub lunch at the Plough, Navestock Heath - a beautiful spot in 20 acres of meadow. As they were enjoying a beer and a prawn sandwich, he asked his son if he liked the pub. Having received an affirmative reply, John said: ‘that’s good. I’ve just bought it!” Father and son spent five years living above the pub, joined for a couple of years by Chris’ son Stuart. Cribbage proved a popular pastime. In later years in Gozo, they played every night when Jamie visited.

On holiday in Tunisia, John met Frances. She visited the Plough and six months later moved in. John and Frances married in 1992 and enjoyed 29 years together until she passed away in 2021.

In 1970, the family had stayed with English friends in Mgarr in Gozo. John and Barbara fell under the spell of the island. People and weather were warm and welcoming. A year later, a property was purchased in Ghajnsielem, overlooking the sea. John’s love affair with Gozo continued for the rest of his life. On retirement in 2006, Judge John and Frances moved permanently to a refurbished farmhouse in Xaghra.

He was instrumental in forming the Gozo branch of the English Speaking Union. English and local volunteers introduced schoolchildren to English debating classes, summer schools and speaking competitions. Impressed by the children’s debating skills, John became committee chairman of the Gozo ESU, role which lasted until he died.

A self-taught pianist, John experienced great joy in tickling the ivories in his library. He was an avid collector of antiquities, particularly 18 th and 19th century glass. Such was his understanding of the subject glass experts would contact him occasionally for advice. Some
558 pages of a first draft of a book on antique glass remains on his computer.

John would immerse himself in history and English literature. In recent months, he had been re-reading the works of Charles Dickens in the order they were written, assessing the subtle changes in Dickens’ approach to his work.

The Barnes family have been lifelong Ipswich Town supporters, stemming from John’s father’s roots. TV and computer links enabled John and son Adrian to watch each Town match and share views on pre-match prospects and post-match performances.

Jamie Barnes told mourners that his father’s intellect remained sharp until the end. “He was the most intelligent and learned person I have ever met. He remained youthful beyond his years and enjoyed life to the full. He was generous to a fault and always saw the good in people. In John’s philosophy, the glass was always half full, never half empty.”