Page 14 - Demo

goodies. Some folks who were
going through a tough time
personally remember just how
touched they were by the love
and care and support that they
received from John and Doreen
and that’s really special. And they
kept in contact with folks, not just
those who may be considered
influential or important, but those
who needed support, or were
just friends. They were regularly
welcomed at Ranton.
One memory of mine, is an
evening when as children, we
went with mum and dad for
one of our trips to visit Ranton
Hall, I remember my little sister
used to call David and Stanley,
the giants. But when it came to
desert, Auntie Doreen presented
us with a table heaving with
a large variety of spectacular
puddings. My Dad, never one to
shy away from a pudding, said
that he couldn’t choose. Doreen
went and got the biggest dinner
plate, presented my Dad with a
full portion of each round the
plate. To Doreen’s delight and
my mothers disgust, my Dad
finished off the lots and had a full
round of seconds. That was an
interesting trip home in the car.
Equally, John was always willing
to help out if anyone was in a
pickle. When I was a young teen,
my father was ill and John came
over to help with the milking.
We had huge Holstein Fresians
and one of them was being
particularly unhelpful about going
into the parlour. And I eventually
completely lost my rag with the
cow and for a reason I don’t
quite understand today, I grabbed
its tail in some kind of feeble
attempt to make it stop. The
cow carried on going and in my
temper I refused to let go. And as
we went past the doorway of the
milking parlour, I saw John stood
there watching and I went past
looking probably a lot like a very
slow waterskier, trying to make
this beast comply. Anyway, once
I’d exhausted this new sport, John
came through and quickly helped
me get the animal through. And
why do I mention it, because he
never said a word. There was no
need to say anything, there was
a lot going on and he was just
a great support. He did things
calmly, simply and quietly, in his
own way and God honoured him
and his family for it.
St Francis of Assisi famously said:
“Preach the Gospel at all times,
when necessary, use words.”
And in that way, John was an
evangelist.
He stuck to what he believed,
no matter what others thought.
There was no harvesting at
Ranton on a Sunday.
He achieved his dreams, not for
him, but for his family. He bought
not one, but two farms in his
lifetime, but most importantly, he
lived a life not just of flowers and
farming, but also dedicated to his
family and his faith.
We read in John 14:1-3,
“Do not let your hearts be
troubled. You believe in God;
believe also in me. My Father’s
house has many rooms; if that
were not so, would I have told
you that I am going there to
prepare a place for you? And if I
go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to
be with me that you also may be
where I am. You know the way to
the place where I am going.”
John spent his life preparing
farms and homes and gardens to
provide for those he loved, but
we also know that he know that
his father in heaven had prepared
a place for him. We know that
today, he isn’t here, but residing
with his saviour whom he loved.
Like in life and in his Ranton
Coronation Cup win, he fought
the good fight, he ran the race
and he kept the faith. And now
to top all those numerous best
in show rosettes, he has received
his crown of righteousness’ from
his saviour.
Shorthorn
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“He did things calmly, simply and
quietly, in his own way and God
honoured him and his family for it. “