Tomorrow we will be saying our final goodbyes to our cousin Johnston. He had the build & the personality to always stand out in a crowd. He was happy to help anyone in need & had time for everyone both in his personal & professional lives. He will be sorely missed by so many of us both sides of the Irish sea, gone but not forgotten. RIP Johnston.

As I think of Johnston - and I'm sure my siblings could relate - I think of many different relationships. The one of as a small boy this funny, interesting, slightly mad older cousin from London spending time with us and investing in us as children not to mention the many other people he was devoted to visiting while over. Johnston was well read, full of information but I suppose someone who didn't have an easy start in life and maybe found himself having to grow up much too quickly?? I don't know and I'm not a psychiatrist but the things I've always had in life and have taken for granted Johnston maybe didn't. I remember as a child us walking the two miles or so into the local village and while there (during the height of the Northern Ireland troubles) the British Army enquiring of him who he was as they hadn't seen him before. Johnston assured them of his support and that he was here visiting family. He had a very disarming and genial way with him. Occasionally that would get him into trouble. On another occasion while visiting him in London we came across a tour guide speaking to a group of people beside a statue of someone I've since forgotten. Johnston with his own facts decided to start addressing part of the tour guides group before being told by the tour guide to 'get his own group' lol. How I laughed I can't begin to tell you how much. Johnston came over gor all our weddings apart from my sister Janice's I think a couple of years ago. I guess the decline in health - mental and physical - had accelerated somewhat. He was a larger than life character and someone I'll always remember with great fondness

Fond memories of Johnston visiting our family home while growing up for holidays. Johnston would visit and be quick to supply us with treats and plenty of fun and craic. Johnston could put on many a funny voice but you could also have great, serious chats also. Also enjoyed meeting with him in London when at university. He will be dearly missed for the kind gentleman he was. :)