Active member of community passes away

AN ACTIVE member of the Battle community has passed away.

Respected Battle translator John Griffin died peacefully in Tusker House Nursing Home on Thursday April 4 at the age of 88.

John had lived in Saxonwood Road for more than 40 years.

He was translating into his eighties having only become a professional translator in his forties.

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Prior to this he’d been a farmer before exporting livestock to India and Argentina, teaching hacienda workers how to rear British breeds of cattle.

John Griffin was a keen sportsman and as a young man during a road race lost a shoe but continued running- and had the blisters for months.

This stoicism is a good snapshot of his toughness.

He’d often talk about how he’d loaded half hundredweight sacks of grain single-handedly.

He was an active member of the community having been chairman of Battle Tennis Club and the Footpath and Recreation Committee

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He had a strong commitment to security serving as a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator and on the Battle Crime Prevention Panel.

A committed church goer, he was a sidesman at St Mary’s for many years.

He was passionate about rail, believing that it was essential that the rail network was expanded and improved which was in keeping with his love of the countryside and his desire to see it protected.

John believed it was important to “do one’s duty” and did, being very hard-working and diligent in a wide range of task to which he gave his attention.

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He’d been a member of the Battle Historical Society and often attended meetings of the Robertsbridge Archaeological Society.

An adventurer, he had been to Chile and had climbed to 15,000 feet in a rarified atmosphere - and he did this in his eighties.

John was also a much-loved father and grandfather.

He leaves behind two sons and three grandchildren.

The cremation service will take place at Hastings Crematorium on Friday April 26 at 2.45pm.

Instead of flowers, donations to the British Heart Foundation may be sent to the funeral directors: Arthur C Towner, 19 Market Square Battle, TN33 0XB.

Mourners are warmly invited to join the family after the cremation service for a spot of tea and the chance to share their memories of John Griffin.

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