MORE than 200 people gathered at St John’s Church in Bromsgrove on Wednesday for the funeral of Rubery man John Paul Godfrey.
John had a love of motorcycles and there was a cavalcade of classic bikes which journeyed to the church from John’s village.
Six of John’s biker friends were also pall bearers and one paid tribute to him during the service which was taken by Rev Hilda Roxborough.
John, who died at the age of 63, lived most of his young life in South Birmingham and attended Turves Green Boys School.
He was well known for his art and liked making and creating things.
After his schooling he worked for his father who was a builder.
He stayed with his dad until he died and then went on to manage Charles Grosvenor’s Loft Conversion Company before retiring through ill health.
John met wife Gillian at the amusement arcade at the Lickey Hills where she worked on the hot dog stand.
Their relationship started with a double-date with his friend Dave and Beryl.
The pair liked to dance at local clubs and go for rides in the country, on tours and to bike rallies in the UK and Europe on his Harley Davidson.
He set up the first rally for his group in the Black Mountains in Wales.
John and Gillian married at Bromsgrove Registry Office in 1994, even arriving at the service on a motorbike.
They spent many happy years together and had four children, Clair, Sam, James and Edward and later five grandchildren, Harry, Alex, Charlotte, Ashley and Bethany.
The children have many fond memories of their childhood, remembering him as an all-encompassing dad.
Every year they went on holiday to Beverley Caravan Park at Goodrington Sands, Devon.
John got everyone involved in all events and games and would scour charity shops to devise ‘more than perfect’ fancy dress outfits so they could enter competitions.
He had the same approach to birthdays and would always take the time to find perfect personal presents as well as write personal messages, drawing a caricature of the birthday card recipient.
He played with all the children and their friends and insisted everyone had a hobby. He would even find one for those who did not have an interest.
In his spare time, John made things for the house or toys for the children, building a variety of items, including a model railway in the garden, complete with track, fully-working steam engine and scenery.
When his children had their own homes he would always help them out.
John was well-known for looking after all his possessions and encouraging everyone else to do the same. If anyone borrowed anything from him, he would insist it was returned in the same condition.
When he was young, he started the PHOG motorbike club which stood for Poor Harley Owners’ Group.
He believed most bike owners had no money as it all went on their machines and those joining had to borrow the 20p joining fee.
John embraced the fashions of the day, from teddy boys to truck drivers and bikers and loved American car shows and rock ‘n’ roll music which featured prominently at Wednesday’s service.
John was also known for being a mine of information, remembering many things and having a multitude of stories and jokes to tell.
People would gather around him to hear them and they were always perfectly timed for his audience.
One of his friends described John as ‘the funniest man he had ever known’.
Rev Roxborough said: “We celebrated all the good things in John’s life. A life he loved. A satisfying life. A very busy, happy life and a life filled to the brim with things he was passionate about.”
