Dom Forth Presents...

This is the full transcript of my tribute to John at his funeral...

Thank you all again for coming today to pay tribute to John – it means a tremendous amount, and I can't thank you all enough for the phonecalls, texts, emails and facebook messages that you've sent.

It's helped so much tremendously through these difficult times and they've all been extremely comforting.

It's obviously a very, very sad day today, but I have so many happy memories of growing up with John and so, so many stories.

I could spend hours reminiscing with you all the funny stories... and some of the practical jokes John played growing up... as I'm sure in fact many of you also could.

My only fear is repeating those stories while we're all here in church!

He was full of so much character and personality and was also making me laugh.

I always remember being in Spain on holiday when John and one of his friends found some money at a fairground.

There was no lost or found or anyone to hand it to, so they both decided that the best thing to do was to go and try and get served for beer!

Well, me being the younger and I guess back then more sensible one opted out, but John was determined, telling me that if I was ever to be a man I would have to start drinking beer.


I was adamant I only wanted a milkshake which to my surprise John eventually gave in to...

Well we carried on and it wasn't until I was just about to finish my second one when suddenly I started sliding down the wall.

Turns out the milkshake John had got me was spiked with Rum and coconut liquor!

We truly bonded on that holiday more than we ever had before.

He always looked after me and he always put me first, and definitely helped me avoid a few beatings in my time too.

He even continued to look after me when I had moved away for University. For some reason I always remember one night I got into a dispute with a Kebab shop owner.

I was still bitter about it the next day and told John about it. John loved a good practical joke. And, next thing I know Johns calling the guy on the phone pretending to be from the Health and Safety department with the local council.

Not just that he told the owner that due to complaints his shop had been scheduled for an emergency inspection in the next 45 minutes!

You can imagine the bedlam you could over the other end of the phone.


The part that made me laugh the most was that John kept the joke going for 6 months!


I'm just so grateful to have had such a wonderful brother. Full of so much character and personality – always making me laugh.

We were both afforded similar opportunities in life but the one thing I had in life that John didn't was him as my older brother. And I attribute so much of my success to John.
He was brilliant.
In John I had both sides to the perfect role model - a brother who was able to teach me what to do and the way to live my life … but also unwittingly in some cases, what not to do too.

In fact, I think one of the biggest lessons I learnt on what not to do from John was to make your own fireworks...

As those of you who have been to a fireworks show at our house on bonfire night know, John would put on his own display at the end where he would bring out his own home made ones.

Most of them were great.

But every so often there'd be one of his special ones, like the rocket that misfired and almost took out one of our next door neighbours, and cracked the lounge window.

Or the rocket that got stuck in the ground and nearly took us all out!

That was definitely one of his trademarks. And I loved him for it. Because that was so like John!

I learned so much from John that I will always carry forward with me.

There's no other love like the love for a brother.
There's no other love like the love from a brother. 

I'm so grateful that you're all here today for John who at times felt unimportant here on earth. Im so grateful for him to be realized for how much he mattered and how much he was loved.

I really want us to be able to celebrate his life today.

And I ask you all to remember the positive impact John had on your life and to take that forward with you!

As Thomas Campbell once said.... “to live in hearts we leave behind. Is not to die.”
(here's another quote too)
I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. 
I sought my God, but my God eluded me. 
I sought my brother and I found all three. 

I love you John and I think at this point you would want me to say, I'm looking forward to having a pint in your honour!

Thank you!