Page 197 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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BEYOND THE GYM
JOHN MICHAEL IONS 1935 - 2021
John Jennings
Publicity wise the 1950’s and 1960’s were the golden years of the (R)APTC. The Corps
could boast a crop of instructors with incredible physical talents, most were also blessed with an exaggerated sense of humour. The television productions of the Royal Tournament, Remembrance Day, the Berlin and Edinburgh Tattoos were eagerly awaited by thousands of spectators and millions of viewers and the Corps Displays were thought by many to be the highlight of each event. In addition to those famous shows many displays were enjoyed by the public in village fetes and charitable shows around the South of England.
John Michael Ions, always known
to his colleagues as Johnny, was
brought up in North Yorkshire and in 1947 left school to become an apprentice jockey. As such, he rode against all the leading jockeys of that era. During his National Service he became a regular soldier and in 1955 transferred into the APTC. In the 1950’s, having represented Yorkshire Boys at soccer, he played for Scarborough and York City.
In the Corps he was a pioneer in the trampoline and listed below are some of his achievements:
Johnny represented the British Army, Combined Services, England and Great Britain. In 1963-64 he represented Great Britain versus Germany, France, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland in trampoline. He took 3rd place in a German open trampoline event. In 1962, 1963 and 1964 he was the British Open Trampoline Champion. In 1965, 1966,1967 and 1970 he was the BAOR trampoline champion. From 1963 to 1966 he was the British Army Trampoline Champion. In 1968/69 during his tour of Hong Kong Johnny played soccer and hockey for Hong Kong and became Hong Kong Trampoline champion both years running.
It is said that his Dive and Cut over the high horse was the highest ever seen in England. Johnny was always up for any comedy situation and was the leader of various trampoline comedy acts of International acclaim. He was often assisted in his shows with the likes of Peter Bartlett and Brian Daley. Johnny was a modest, inspiring and very popular instructor with supreme wide-ranging talents and one of the superstars in the golden era of the APTC.
After leaving the army, Johnny was employed for the next 22 years by North Yorkshire Council as an Education Welfare Officer. Each Summer he voluntarily ran Recreational and Outdoor Activities Camps for underprivileged children. He also ran the Stables Lads Welfare Boxing team for young male Jockeys and Apprentices and as a volunteer he taught girls trampolining at a local school for 15 years.
His love of horses never left him and he managed to train several winning horses in his later life. On retirement Johnny and his wife, Jean, were guests of honour at a “Picnic” at Sedgefield Racecourse. One of their perks that evening was a free bet on every race. It is believed that a modest sum of money was raised as a result of that fine gesture.
DENIS CHARLES SEARS
Denis sadly passed away after a short illness on 18th July 2021. One of 5 children he was born on the 11th February 1934 and was raised in Watford,
Hertfordshire.
As a child, he was always out and about doing some sort of sport, his passion in those early years being swimming and diving. Gymnastics was also a great part of his life and he was selected in the 50s to represent GB in the Olympics. Due to having just joined the Army, he was unable to commit to the training so this opportunity was not fulfilled.
Denis’ Army career began with his training in North Wales, where he met and married Mary in 1956, and they subsequently enjoyed postings to Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany and Gibraltar.
Denis’ passion for sport led him to join the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. The Corps became his life where he excelled at everything he did, meeting some fabulous people along the way who then became close friends. He ran the Army swimming and boxing teams and was a qualified referee in football, boxing and basketball.
He was heavily involved in the South-East District Association after he retired and continued to enjoy the contact with many friends and colleagues.
He leaves 4 children, Marc, Kym, Donna & Nikki, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. His wife Mary sadly died in 2008 and his youngest son Peter died in 2012.
Denis will be very sadly missed.