John Cady

It is with great sadness that I have to report the recent passing of John, a great friend on the Automotive Engineering course and a fellow resident of Royce Hall.

We have kept in touch ever since, mainly through modern technology, but we managed a get together at the 25^th Loughborough reunion, along with others from the course (Phil Gardner, Mike Pixton, and Peter Morris). We also met up whenever he took holidays in Cornwall.

John joined the Automotive course with a head start having had a years’ apprenticeship with British Leyland. It was clear from day one that John would succeed big in whatever he turned his hand to. He had an obvious natural talent and his excellent degree result duly confirmed this.

On graduation, John moved to the Bathgate facility of Leyland and quickly assumed the role of Chief Engineer, Advanced Engineering, for the van division. It was here that john acquired his first Jaguar, the marque which was to become the love of his life.

In 1981, John was promoted to Freight Rover in the West Midlands, this being a stepping stone to the big job that he craved at Jaguar in 1983, Chief Engineer, body and trim. In this position he saw through many jaguar new car projects, the chief of which was the highly acclaimed aluminum bodied XJ series.

John retired in 2001 and began to spend quality time with his family at his home in Singleton, conveniently a few miles from the Goodwood estate and motor racing circuit.

Here he was able to combine the pleasures of working on various Jaguar restoration projects at home whilst establishing a Jaguar enthusiasts group in Portsmouth. He was able to also enjoy his other hobby, that of designing and building motor caravans.

I had the pleasure in the mid 2000’s of joining John and his wife, Mary, for a fish and chip supper on one of his trips to Cornwall, whilst they were able to join us for dinner one night in Truro. Much history was exchanged!

John had a major stroke in 2018 and, being confined to a wheelchair, was unable to continue with his hands on approach to whatever he set his mind to. His wife Mary, son and daughter, and his grandchildren, who he loved dearly, filled his days with love and joy to the end.

John was cremated at Chichester Crematorium on 1 April 2022.

John, whenever I am behind the wheel of a car, I will think of you. Sorry, but it won’t be a Jaguar!