As a youth in the late summer school holidays, he worked on cockle and shrimp boats, before going on to also join the Royal Navy Sea Cadets. There he learnt to sail and row in ex-naval whalers and went on navy destroyers, corvettes and some of the old battleships with the cadets.
A highlight was a week-long trip to the Channel Island on the corvette HMS Tintagle Castle, where he picked up timber from Siberia.
"It was just like going through the Iron Curtain," he said.
"We were in fog when a Russian pilot came alongside with armed guards on board and we felt lucky to get out of there."
He eventually ended up working for the Shaw Savill Line and New Zealand Steamship Company, which each took cargo to and from New Zealand and allowed him to experience the country.
In 1955, he married the love of his life Jean and, two years later, the pair immigrated to New Zealand where their son Peter was born the following year.
Initially, the family lived in Lower Hutt but moved to Paraparaumu in 1960, where John ran his own painting and decorating business.
In 1962, he became a life member of the Wellington Master Painters Association, becoming the Wellington Regional Executive until he retired some years ago.
Within a year of starting his role as a leader at the Paraparaumu Beach Sea Scouts Group, John had organised and helped to build a new den, the John Roger Hall, which is still used by the Sea Scouts today.
This was followed by leadership training where he attained two Wood Leadership badges, the highest badges for Scouts and group leadership.
He became Assistant District Commissioner for the group in 1975, but turned his sights back to Scout leadership six months later away from isolated administrative duties.
"All my time was taken up with going to meetings and I wasn't working with the kids teaching them sailing and seamanship, which is what I like doing."
As part of his dedication to Scouts, John devoted his own time to building and repairing boats for the boys, which he did in his shed at home, spending two hours each evening working on a vessel, which took around three months at a time.
When the boats were not laid up for maintenance during winter, John and his team of helpers took Scouts sailing over the summer months every Monday evening.
John attended every national regatta except one since 1969, where he helped to run the sailing at a few events.
"The national regatta has a fantastic atmosphere and great comradeship, and is always fun. You get to meet great people from all over the country and overseas."
John gained "terrific satisfaction" from his years as a Scout leader, and thanked Jean for her support.
"Without her it wouldn't have happened."
John's secret to running the Paraparaumu Beach Sea Scouts Group was having a good team behind him, which he always did.
"Kids always love sailing and so do I. I loved passing on my knowledge."
