From
Rob Strachan:
I write with the sad news that John Bibby who graduated with
myself and John Perry in 1978 has just passed away (last week
I believe). If you look at the pictures of us in the 2003 reunion
[below] you'll see a group holding some beers up with Bill Perkins,
John is on the right. Apparently he had had cancer for some
four years and had retired from teaching last year. All I really
know is that John had taught A-level chemistry for many years
and had had some form of cancer for ~4 years which eventually
caught up with him.
Nigel
Hunkler-Brown, John Perry, Bill Perkins, Rob Strachan, John
Bibby
John
died on the 30th November 2011. He graduated in 1978, in Joint
Honours with Chemistry. He taught Chemistry at Oldham Hulme
Grammar School for 24 years and was a well loved and respected
teacher and colleague. He was also a part-time Open University
tutor (Science Foundation) for many years and did many courses
himself, passing most with distinction and also winning the
national Challenger prize for Oceanography. His main interests
were mountaineering, paragliding, travel and he also was in
charge of lighting for many school productions and church pantomimes.
He was married to Rosemary for 19 years. There are no children.
His sister, Catherine Breen, also did Chemistry at Aber, graduating
in 1976.
John was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a cancer of the plasma
cells) in 2008. It is a treatable but currently incurable cancer.
He underwent extensive treatment in 2008 and enjoyed two years
of relatively good health in 2009 and 2010, when he was able
to return to part-time teaching. The cancer returned in 2011
when he took medical retirement.
Donations to the charity Myeloma UK in John's memory are very
welcome. Myeloma UK is the main myeloma charity. It provides
information and support to sufferers and their families and
campaigns for new drugs and research into finding a cure. www.myeloma.org.uk/get-involved/donate/giving-in-memory/
John
Bibby: