In loving memory of John Stewart who sadly passed away on 13th March.
Details of the funeral are provided below, along with personal tributes.
FUNERAL SERVICE
The funeral service will be held at 2pm on Tuesday 13th April at Mortlake Crematorium.
As capacity is limited, attendance is by invitation only, however the service will be webcast live and details of how to access this are provided below, along with directions for those who are attending in person.
WATCH THE LIVE WEBCAST ON THE DAY
Here are details of how to access the webcast of the funeral service live, starting at 2pm on Tuesday 13th April:
WEBCAST:
- Click the button above to open the webcast page in a new tab
- Enter your Webcast Login details which are as follows:
- The Order ID: 89087
- Password: crksfcyq
- Tick the box to agree to the Terms & Conditions
- Click the Login button
Once the stream has begun the video will load automatically.
Tips and troubleshooting
If you go to https://wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast now you can see an example webcast so you can test that you are able to see and hear it.
If by the designated start time the video is still not visible we advise that you periodically refresh this page (this can be achieved by pressing Ctrl and F5 together).
For any technical issues on the day, you can call the Wesley team on 01536 314 914.
HOW TO GET THERE IF ATTENDING
Address:
Mortlake Crematorium
Kew Meadow Path
Townmead Road
Richmond
TW9 4EN
Directions:
Turn into Townmead Road off the A205 Mortlake Road. At the mini-roundabout, turn right into Kew Meadow Path. Go through the gates and park in the car park on the left hand side.
The crematorium building will be in front of you, if you walk under the left archway, there is a Waiting Room on the right hand corner and loos are on the left hand side. The ladies are in the small waiting area on the left, the gents doorway is a little further along from this room.
We will be looking out for you and will come to gather you all at the required time.
After the service we will lead you out to one of the small memorial gardens where you can stay and chat for a while.
DONATIONS
In lieu of floral tributes we invite you to donate to Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) – a charity John was a lifetime supporter of, for how they care for people at the most vulnerable times.
Thank you
TRIBUTES
We knew John for over 60 years.We met in Glasgow when we were in our late teens and Although we now live in different parts of the country we have kept in contact over the years by email, phone and memorable reunion lunches at the Chelsea Arts Club when Jim ,Elda and John Biggart were in the UK and of course with Mary Lou.
I got to know John when, I visited London in late 1959 to visit galleries.
I used to hitchhike from Glasgow to London and John was a very generous host and he used to invite me to stay in a room in a Civil Service House in Sloane Street. It was really for employees in the Housing Dept.
Of course this was illegal ,but John wasn’t one for observing the official line. His generosity and sense of anarchy was always evident and notable ,as we continued to meet up over the years.
John wrote and drew with a strong personal note.
He was a source of great knowledge in particular the ‘Beat generation’
poets and writers, and followed Kerouac’s advice “Something that you feel will find its own form”
John was a constant source of encouragement to me and his unflinching enthusiasm for my paintings and performances was a great support. He would always turn up at openings often travelling a long way to be there. John was often trying to get buyers interested in my work and a few years ago, he encouraged me to send work to auction houses.
Recently, about five weeks ago John offered me an introductory subscription to London Review of Books for a year. That was a lovely gesture, and it has been a real gift in many ways. Thanks John!
John I will miss you greatly- thank you for your life long friendship.
Joy joins me in sending love and condolences to Mary Lou, Zelda and Kimball and their families
Love from Peter
Peter Wilson
Will miss Johns friendship, kindness and grumpy reaction to my ringing or disturbing him before 4 pm!!!Endured long term health issues with a stoicism and humour that is a reminder to me as the years go on. Poetry, literature, Dylan, Lou Reed and great burns evenings. He put a lot of life into his 80 years. Take a walk on the wild side John!!!!
Alan Rowden
Like so many people I will deeply miss John.
Most of all I’ll miss his anarchic humour, his infectious smile and his unforgettable panache.
His friend,
Steve Plant
John was one of the most interesting, intelligent and unique men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He made a huge impact on me and all who got to know him. He will certainly be remembered as a very special man, a true ‘one of a kind’. My love and thoughts are with his family.
Julie Stewart
John, since we first met at the Prince of Wales in Holland Park in 1969, you have been a part of my close circle of friends. So many memories from Sunday lunches at Gentle Ghost to parties at Beryl Road plus New Year’s Eve celebrations & Burns suppers to happy days spent in Broadstairs and Southwold. And thank you too for introducing me to memorable tunes like Neil Young’s “It’s only Castles Burning”. You were a wonderful friend to Charlie and I appreciated your contact with me since he died. You were a man of so many talents and interests. So here’s to you John…cheers. love Diane
Diane Mercedes Woods
John was the life and soul, an artist and an intellectual. He was open and loving and interest in so many people and things and one couldn’t help feeling the world was a more interesting place when in his presence. I feel truly lucky to have known him. Hope they’re ready for him in the next life!
Rob Pratt
I first encountered John whenever I was a teenager at school and even then John was a striking character. As time passed I eventually became an associate member of the Stewart Clan whenever I married his sister Margaret. John and Anne attended our wedding John in his sixties fashionable white suit and shoes and Anne resplendent in her miniskirt.
We met on many occasions after that and John was always interesting and entertaining, especially in the Pub, with his insight into UK society and political framework. I particularly remember a holiday in St Andrews with the two families and Granny Stewart when John was very entertaining on that occasion. John proved to be very helpful to our two sons whenever they set out on their careers in London and they frequently comment on that period in their lives.
John was a ‘character’ who could easily keep you entertained with his wit and repartee . We did not meet often enough but the occasions we did meet were memorable.
John you will always be fondly remembered in our family.
William Devlin
I will remember John’s laughter and his wonderful anecdotes and use of language. I once turned up for dinner in what must have been some sort of memorable outfit and John later referred to me as having turned up “dressed like a knickerbocker glory” and I’ve never forgotten it..
Susan Blower
John I am so glad you came into my life. Your anarchic wit humour generosity and O that smile !!!!. We first met that weekend after Roger and Eva’s Wedding down here in Brighton some 23 / 24 years ago. That Wedding has a lot to answer for !!!. My youngest son James met you some months later when we came over to Beryl Road. He was aged 14 years at the time ( now aged 38 yrs ) . The conversations you had with him during that visit to you has always stayed with him. He is now aged 38yrs !!!!. Thankyou John for your recent communications via the Internet during Lockdown . I especially enjoyed the forwarded cartoons of Steve Bell’s cartoons in the Guardian. I have enjoyed your recent book. Thankyou for the copy at Christmas . You will always be with us John . Thankyou .A big cheer from the Brighton lot !!!!!. Maggie xxxxxx
Maggie Hodge
J – joie de Vivre
O – orator
H – humerous
N – Non Conformist
S – sartorial
T – teller of Tales
E. – empathetic
W – witty
A – artist
R – renaissance Man
T – TRUE FRIEND
JOHN STEWART – Simply the best!
Janice, Michael, Nick and Lucy
Uncle, great uncle, and great great uncle…basically great. John, was a big part of our lives even though many miles separated us. I will miss our exchanges of cheeky cartoons and political pokes. So privileged to have you as an uncle and friend. God bless you and thank you for all your support, not to mention hospitality through the years…..oh to have one more gathering around the Beryl Road dining table….best of memories…
Love Caroline and Lucy xxx
My acquaintance with John goes back to the time we were introduced to each other in Glasgow by Jim Mulholland. Soon after, John moved to London to take up a position in the Ministry of Housing and since then he has been associated in my mind with the Glasgow-London connection, for two reasons. In common with John’s other Scottish friends and acquaintances we always looked to John for accommodation whenever we made our trips to London (usually, in those days, by overnight bus) for a slice of London life. John was invariably helpful, though the steady flow of visitors from Scotland must often have been inconvenient. When in London we would expect John to point us towards, and accompany us to, congenial pubs and restaurants and this he would gladly do. In the early days, the curry restaurants in London were more numerous and of a higher standard than those in Scotland and John was a reliable guide. In later days we would ring the changes and I have memories of convivial nights out with John and Mary-Lou at a Polish restaurant they had discovered.
For most of the time I knew John he lived in London. However, when he enrolled to take a degree in UEA, and brought Anne, Zelda and Kimball to Norwich during term-time, we had many opportunities for excursions and for sampling the local real ale. John had an engaging “theatricality” and a talent for off-beat jokes. Our visits to pubs and restaurants, both in London and Norwich, were always full of laughter.
John, Jim and I shared an interest in football. The three of us, together with Mary Lou and Elda Mulholland, on more than one occasion took in matches at Craven Cottage, John being a member of the Fulham Supporters’ Club. I remember vividly games involving Fulham against Arsenal and Manchester City. They did not end well for Fulham, but these were always very sociable occasions. John and I also followed the fortunes of Arsenal. I regret that we never got to visit Highbury or the Emirates. He and I were also life-long (though not uncritical!) Bob Dylan fans. John was adept at coming up with obscure boot-leg recordings for our collection.
It was clear that John was a loving father. He was always up to date on how his children were doing, and concerned about their welfare. He had an empathy for the younger generation and when my own son had occasion to visit London to seek employment, he was always happy to put him up for the night and offer encouragement.
John was a fiercely independent individual. Needless to say, he was an avid reader and writer. It was interesting to note that in recent years he had developed his ability as a cartoonist and was finding this medium congenial as an outlet for his satirical sense of humour and his sceptical view of developments in the modern world. In common with many expatriate Scots, John always pined after Scotland, though in common with many of us he did not (I think) want to return, except “from time to time”. However, you cannot take the Scotsman out of the Anglo-Scot, and in my opinion his understanding of the strengths and foibles of both countries were part of his unique personality.
John Biggart
John was such good company, a lively and stimulating conversationalist, and fund of information and anecdote. He was a very popular part of celebrations and gatherings of MaryLou’s family, and we were all delighted about the very great happiness he and MaryLou brought each other.
Caroline and Duncan
John was a real bohemian.A bohemian from Coatbridge.
John wore more coats and crossed more bridges than Kenneth More. He had more fingers in more pies too. I met John at the B2 gallery in Docklands long before gentrification. Long before gentrification of Docklands that is. No one could gentrify John…A Dandy from the stable of DC Thomson in Dundee including Beryl the Peril. 57 Beryl Road. 57 varieties of John. Full of beans. He watched films and made films , he read books and wrote books. Music, poetry, drawing, painting ( trying to beat the feat of Klee). He sought out and thought out. He rocked. He rolled. Hello Mary Lou, Kimball and Zelda. Zelda was a wee girl when I met the Stewart Clan…Now Zelda is elda but her dad will never grow old. He will stay forever young. Never needed are Zimmerman just his stick. Just Mahatma Kane Jeeves. Strawberry nosed Fields forever. John Stewart the world is poorer by your absence.