A “one of a kind” man who was well loved throughout Scunthorpe and would “find friends wherever he went” has sadly died at the age of 89.
John Rose passed away following a brave battle with cancer on Monday, October 16, leaving behind three children – Gabriella, Tammy and Nicky – and hundreds of people who knew and loved him.
Described by daughter Gabriella as charismatic, funny and dapper, John was born to parents Iris and Eleazer Rose in Clarendon, Jamaica on August 20, 1934.
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After spending time in the USA during the horrific time of racial segregation, John emigrated to London in the 1970s and found work for a company named Plibrico.
When the business relocated to Scunthorpe, John moved to the area, and met his late wife Lillian – originally from Bangladesh – who he married in the early 1980s. The happy couple welcomed their three children, and built their life on Normanby Road.
Speaking to Scunthorpe Live, John’s daughter Gabriella said: “He lived a hard but great life. When he moved to Scunthorpe, there were only two other Caribbean men who lived here. There weren’t a lot of people who looked like him, and there weren’t many black men who were able to buy houses at the time. He ran his house as a B&B initially.
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“He’s so well known and highly thought of in the community, and for people in Scunthorpe, it’s a huge loss. Everybody I’ve spoken to said they either know him or have seen him in the street. My dad wasn’t someone who would judge someone by their appearance or class or wealth, he was just very much, he saw you as you were as a person, wherever he was he would find friends and a community.”
During his life, John was an active member of many community groups in the area, including St Phillips Club and Institute, the Polish Social Centre, the Working Man’s Club and within the Asian and Afro-Caribbean community.
After he retired, John took a keen interest in gardening and looked after four allotments at once, growing fruit and vegetables for his friends and family. He also enjoyed socialising in pubs in central Scunthorpe – but his biggest passion was always his family.
(Image: Submitted)
“My dad was always the best dressed, anyone who knew him will tell you he was dapper, charismatic and funny, and he didn’t care what anybody thought of him. He was so generous and never asked for anything,” Gabriella said.
“He just said it how it was, he was a proper salt of the earth guy and one of a kind. There was no one like him and there won’t ever be anyone like him again. There was nobody as strong as him.
“I asked him once what his favourite memory with my mum was, and he said that every memory with my mum was the best, but especially having his three kids, and that was him down to a T. For him his biggest pride was his kids. It’s hard to put into words how special he was. Scunthorpe has seen a loss.
“He wanted his funeral to be a big party to celebrate his life.”
John’s funeral will be held at 12.15pm on Friday, November 3 at St George’s Church, followed by a burial service at Woodlands Crematorium. Anyone is welcome and flowers to be sent to J Naylor Funeral Directors, Comforts Ave, Scunthorpe, DN15 6PN.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
