John enlisted into the British Army on 25th January 1969 as a Grenadier Guard in Queens Company, 1st Battalion. He completed two tours of Northern Ireland, served in Kenya and spent 4 years on a posting in Germany. He was medically discharged in 1975. He has always been passionate and proud about his affiliation to the Grenadier Guards. John volunteered for 10 years to help the Fareham Branch of the Royal British Legion raise funds for the poppy appeal.