Sim Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our fellow moderator and fellow founder of this forum, John Mallinson. John passed away on Friday after a short illness. To say he will be missed is an understatement. Not only was John a moderator for the forum, but as the administrator he set up all the systems that allow the forum to function technically on a day to day basis. He was our liaison between the people running the server and us, and often managed to save us some money by proving that their stats were incorrect. He was also one of our terrific triumvirate, with Ian and Janet, who so diligently provide the worldwide links every day. John wore his moderator hat very subtly and behind the scenes. His was always the voice of calm, of gentle reason, when all around us (including us) was going mad. We could ask his advice on anything, and if we disagreed he would do his best to talk us round, in his calm and sensible way. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but it was always done with his quiet good humour and intellectual approach. He always gave good reasons for his suggestions of what to do in a given situation. We will greatly miss his wit and wisdom, his technical prowess, his patience and his gentleness. He was an old-fashioned sort of true gentleman, the likes of which we don't much see these days. I have known John personally for 15 years and never once in all that time have I heard him swear, or be nasty about anybody or anything, no matter how angry he was. Somehow with John, you always ended up laughing. We will miss his dedication and commitment to this forum. As most of you know, we all started the forum together back in 2011. No-one has ever left our motley little crew, and we work very well together. When John wrote us a message a month or so ago telling us that he was unwell, his first concern was for the forum. He even apologised for letting us down. A couple of weeks ago, from his hospital bed, he communicated with us, worried about how the admin side of the forum was going. This is the kind of man John was, and we will miss him more than we can say. I am sure that you will all join us in thanking John for all that he did to make the forum the thriving place that it is today. His contribution cannot be underestimated. On behalf of the moderators and all forum members, we send our deepest condolences to John's wife, two daughters, grandchildren and all of his family and friends. I will end with the words of a fellow moderator: a true gentleman who will be sorely missed by all. Rest in peace, John. We are privileged that your life touched ours, and so many others. 38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) How sad. Surely one of God's angels on earth, may John RIP as he so richly deserves. Edited August 5, 2019 by Bruce Wall 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annamk Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Very sad news. John was a lovely man - a quiet gentleman. He will be much missed. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 This is such dreadfully sad news. Deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be very much missed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaffa Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So very sorry to hear of the loss of such a wise, thoughtful and kind person. Indeed he will be very much missed... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coated Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Truly sad news indeed, rest in peace and a heartfelt thank you for the wonderful work over the years, enabling us to be part of a lovely community. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirley Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Such sad and shocking news. Such a wonderful gentleman - you will be missed greatly x 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Ng Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So sorry to hear this very sad news. John was a thoughtful and kind gentleman, and has contributed greatly to the establishment and running of this Forum. My condolences to John's family. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletfanp Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Very sad. A big thank you to him. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 The news comes as a huge shock and a reminder of the frailty of life and how quickly things can change as we all get older. I will miss him greatly. I spoke to John only a short while ago and we planned to meet up, but events have overtaken us all. John was quietly authoritative with a deliciously dry sense of humour and not one to gush. Super intelligent he was one of life's givers and somebody who always seemed to do the right thing. Wherever he is now, we can be assured he will be quietly contributing to making it better for all then it would ever otherwise be. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So sad to hear that John has died. A really lovely man. I think it should be mentioned also that John was in charge of the excellent and informative website of The Ballet Association and was an invaluable source of technical help to those of us who report on the BA’s talks. He is going to be missed in so many ways. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 1 minute ago, capybara said: So sad to hear that John has died. A really lovely man. I think it should be mentioned also that John was in charge of the excellent and informative website of The Ballet Association and was an invaluable source of technical help to those of us who report on the BA’s talks. He is going to be missed in so many ways. Yes - one of life's givers and he took forward the BA site, which was rather lacklustre at the start, in a wonderful way. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichelleS Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I'll miss John on this site and also in the Stalls Circle Standing at the ROH where we had many an entertaining conversation over the years - I'll echo the tributes to his gentlemanly nature and tremendous sense of community but will miss also his erudite views, always pithily expressed with his characteristic dry wit. My deepest condolences to his family on this very sad news. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Very sad news. Thoughts and prayers are with you at this time x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yumiko Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I am in deep shock. My condolences to John’s family. Rest in peace, John. I shall miss him and good conversations with him at ROH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) Such sad news. A truly lovely man who will be very much missed. My heartfelt condolences to his wife and family. Edited August 5, 2019 by Bluebird 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheherezade Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I didn’t know John personally but my thoughts too are with his wife and family. May they find peace and comfort when they need it most. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_New Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So sorry to hear this - he was a lovely man, and will be missed. Condolences to his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So sad to hear this. I didn't know John personally but he was clearly a wonderful and much loved person who has contributed so much in so many ways. May he rest in peace, and I send my sincere condolences to his family and friends. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I was stunned and very sad when I heard the news. So I can only imagine how much his family and close friends must be feeling. RIP John - and thanks for all the assistance, and the conversations in the SCS area (especially when Sarah Lamb was dancing). 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbourne3 Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 RIP John - condolences to your family xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I’m very sad to hear this! I didn’t know him particularly, but we exchanged tickets on this forum a few times, and sometimes found ourselves in adjacent seats at Covent Garden. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel H Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Oh no!! Very sad news. Condolences to his family. I will always remember him very fondly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Oh no! How very sad. Condolences to his family. They must be bereft. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I did not have the privilege of knowing John but clearly the wealth of tributes and expressions of sadness here are testament to the loss of a wonderful person. With every sympathy to his family and friends. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I only knew John in person through occasional interval chats, but I valued him very highly for his sense and sanity online, and his never-failing ability to calm down exasperated readers (me) via the messaging system. What a sad loss, to the site as a whole as well as to those who knew him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivy Lin Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I am so sorry to hear about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I join everybody else in expressing my surprise and sadness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 So sorry to hear the news and condolences to his family. I haven’t been using the forum for so long but he helped me out once or twice in that time, always with kindness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy Kent Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I’m very sad and shocked to read of John’s passing . He was a true gentleman as many have said . I met him many years ago through ballet.co and he was always kind, polite and thoughtful . Sincere condolences to his wife, family and friends on their loss . 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarriott Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I can only echo these heartfelt tributes to John. I will really miss his cool analysis of performances at Covent Garden, his gentlemanly manner, and not least his unabashed foraging amongst the snacks and sandwiches left in the Floral Hall (as I always think of it) by affluent members of the audience with eyes bigger than their stomachs! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 What lovely words from everyone and I can only echo the shock and deep sadness we all feel. I will dearly miss John’s calm manner, wonderful advice, endless patience and dry humour. He was a true gentleman and my most heartfelt condolences go to his family and all his friends, including my fellow Moderators, who knew John better than I. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Condolences to John’s family and friends. I didn’t know John but very much appreciated his impeccable judgement as a moderator on Ballet Forum. Uplifting to read the many tributes paid - I wish I had known him. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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