John Pickering 6/1/1931 – 5/2/2026

The Evington community recently bid a fond farewell, at the grand age of 95, to a much-loved and well-respected gentleman: John Errington Pickering.

John’s curiosity about the world was legendary. He would greet a stranger with warmth and compassion; within minutes, that stranger would be a friend and he would know all about them. He could recount, in great detail, incidents from decades ago and peoples’ life stories – he was so interested in people. He knew everybody and everything about them. History, music, the meanings and origins of words… he was fascinated by them all and in turn, became a fascinating character himself. A kind, caring man, to whom family meant everything.

Growing up in Aylestone, John and his brother, Roger, helped their coal merchant father to load coal from the wharf onto his truck before heading off to school. From an early age he had a good head for business; tasked with knocking on customers’ doors to collect their payments. He excelled at Wyggeston Boys’ Grammar School where he developed a love of music, singing in the choir.

Leaving school in 1947, John went to work locally for Co-Op Farms. He was inspired by his uncle, Herbert Errington, who had left to work as an agent for John Deere Tractors in Australia, where farming was booming. When John announced his intention to try life for himself in Australia, his whole family emigrated to the other side of the world: a five-week ship passage in those days! Following a few initial sales and office jobs, John returned to farming, buying cattle and working the land.

However, a few years previously, John had met Pat Jackson at St Denys Church. Both aged 17, after walking her home from church, John asked Pat to join him at a dance the following Saturday; romance soon blossomed. Before leaving on his epic journey, John promised Pat (outside the chip shop,) “I’ll come back for you!” And he kept his word. That devoted relationship with the love of his life survived huge geographic distances and difficulties. The only communication was by letters that took weeks to arrive. Once Pat graduated from university, John returned from Australia and they were married at St Denys that December; a marriage that lasted happily for over 72 years.

Back in Oz, the newlyweds lived in sunny Geelong, outside Melbourne. for the next four years until Pat’s father’s ill-health necessitated their return to Leicester. Despite knowing nothing about the trade, John took over the running of the family business, A. Potterton, that made hand-stitched luggage. He made a great success of it; the company is still run by the family today.

John and Pat lived happily in Thurnview Road for over 60 years, bringing up their two children, Tim and Lou, but the Australian life was always ingrained in his heart.

John loved living life to the full. He loved music and won many singing competitions. He was a great thinker, loving conversations with everybody, puzzles, words and finding out about local history. He was a Freemason; part of the John of Gaunt Lodge. English Country Dancing at Burton Overy gave John and Pat such pleasure, as did travelling… especially to their beloved ‘Down Under’.

Above all, John was a family man: a devoted husband to Pat and father to Tim and Lou; he doted on his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John Pickering leaves a legacy of living a life of enjoyment. A humble man of principle and compassion, admired and respected by all who crossed his path. A man of integrity; kind, fair and wise in his dealings. He loved being with people, engaging in conversation, treating people with dignity and respect. I personally feel honoured to have had John in my life for over 30 years – he was a true friend.

Our thoughts are with his family: with his beloved Pat; Tim and Jo; Lou and Mike; Ceda, Luka and Geoff; Joanie, Dave, Oscar and Timmy; and Todd, Harpreet, Thea and Essie.      

Addy Tyler