I was lucky enough to live next door to John for a few years. But, of course, being the man that he was, John was more than a neighbour. He was a friend.

I will miss our conversations about music and life over the garden hedge, and bumping into him on the streets nearby. He was kind, thoughtful and one of the most open-hearted people I have ever met. I looked to him as an example of how to live one's life to the full; with family and one's passions at its heart.

In our final conversation which – of course – was about music, we spoke about a USB of music that John had thoughtfully given to me after a previous chat about Charles Mingus. I hadn't yet got around to listening and explained that I was holding off until a Sunday afternoon to 'really get into it', or something like that. His response? 'It doesn't have to be a Sunday'. I love that. There's a much deeper meaning if you look for it: don't put things off; make the most of moments as they arise. I will treasure that throwaway yet profound statement alongside my memories of him.

Rest in peace, John.