Jono has passed away

[Guest]

Hello friends of Jono


It's with deep regret that I have to create this thread.


Please take the time to read my next post to this thread I know it's long but it has taken me this long to write it as I was getting too emotional to sit down and write in one attempt.


Miss you Dad

[Guest]

It's with deep regret and heartache that I have to write this post.


Forum member Jono passed away last Saturday 16th January evening at approx 23:20 in Cardiff’s A&E.


He first got into modelling back in the 1970’s when I was an infant, and my bedroom ceiling could have easily been a scene from the battle of Britain with the exception of the modern planes like the large scale Harrier jump jet. My mum accidently knocked this down one day whilst cleaning my room and yet I got the blame for it - as you do when you’re an infant.


Whilst my Sister and I still lived at home he was always saying that when we both moved out he was selling up and moving into a 1 Bedroom bungalow with our mother. Thankfully they did in 1998 as, when my parents went on holiday to Crete in September 2005 with my sister and her family; he got deep vein thrombosis from the flight. When he was taken into hospital to operate to remove it they diagnosed him having acute Leukaemia so they could not operate as planned for the DVT. However they had to make a start on addressing the Leukaemia so he was in hospital for 6 weeks out there before being flown home by air ambulance.


He had already got the early stages of COPD ((Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) emphysema) due to his work environment and also being a smoker didn’t help things whilst undergoing chemotherapy. Although he managed to quit smoking coming down with pneumonia more times than I can remember just made his COPD worst and he became dependant on bottles of oxygen and an oxygen condenser machine. This had a long enough pipe on it so he could get all around the bungalow and out into the patio to sit in the sun - when we were luckily enough to get some sun that is.


I moved out to Rotterdam, Netherlands in April 2012 due to my wife’s job being relocated over there (as of 1st January 2012).


Jono would have good spells and bad spells resulting in him spending much of September / October 2013 in hospital. His hospital visits would normally consist of going into hospital, say on a Monday, and - due to him being so unwell he had become immune to amoxicillin antibiotics (which is the normal prescribed antibiotics) - they would give him a stronger antibiotic until they had worked out exactly what was wrong with him. Once they were able to administer the correct medication for him, and could see him responding to the treatment, they would discharge him so he did not pick up any other bugs / infections whilst in there.


This went on for a couple of months. My mother asked if I could come and help to look after my father during November 2013 as I still had not managed to find employment over in Rotterdam. My wife, being there during the phone call, said ‘there’s nothing to think about / discuss as you’re needed back there’ - so I jumped on the next flight over and stayed for the whole of November.


I went back to Rotterdam early December to spend Christmas and the New year together but as soon as the new year was over the phone call came to say Jono was back in hospital so that was it - I jumped on the next plane back to help look after him.


Eventually, once we managed to get him home and keep him out of hospital for a while, the social services appointed a care company to appoint 2 carer’s visit’s a day so my mother could go back to work knowing some one would be calling in to do him breakfast and to check on him about lunch time.


After a conversation with my wife it was decided that I would stay here in the UK for the foreseeable future with me jumping on a plane to go and spend time with her every other weekend. My mother works every other Saturday so I would go on the weekends she was not working. Jono’s health improved so we were able to keep him out of hospital with only the slight hic up now and then and I managed to find a job fairly local as well, working for the same company as I did before we relocated to Rotterdam. I could still go over to Rotterdam to spend the weekend’s with my wife every other weekend and tried to match those weekends to the one’s my mum had off work.


Jono took up modeling again to help pass the time, as there is only so much day-time TV one can take - and as he enjoyed doing it the time passed. He started off by doing a Harley Davidson bike, which then turned out to be another and then another until he had the complete Harley Davidson model bike range. With the bike’s not having a lot of painted parts to them he managed to paint them with a brush – but then came the planes again and one day when I came home I was told he had ordered an air brush kit! At first he started off with tin’s of compressed air and as soon as he had got used to painting with an airbrush then came the air compressor so he didn’t have to worry about the tins loosing pressure as they got low.


Some days when I managed to get away from work early, or on time, and the traffic was not to bad I could find him sat at his desk either on the forum looking at people’s postings for idea’s on how to finish off the model he was working on or the model he has lined up to do next. Some days I could come from work and he would ask me to do some painting using the airbrush due to him not being at his best. So the fumes would not get to his lungs he even bought a spray hood which was placed on the table in the conservatory so he could just drop the extractor pipe out through an open window so he could do more spraying himself.


He really enjoyed modeling again and with him having so much time he was he was able to go to any length of fine detail. We have a small shelf running around our entrance hall high up the wall – now full with all his bikes on there, and some of the planes he completed on display. The model cars are placed on top of the mantelpiece in the living room.


Last Thursday he was wet rubbing down the fuselage and wings of a 1:44 scale Airfix Boeing 727 that he was working on. With a 1:144 scale Airbus A330-300 lined up next to do and he had ordered different engines to mount on the wings, and decals, as he had planned to build it and finish it in Virgin Atlantic colours.


And then after – 1:24 scale Airfix Supermarine Spitfire mk1a as he was waiting for me to move out when the wife moves back over to the UK at the end of March – only so he could build it on the table I have my computer set up on as it’s nice and large and he could then leave the model on there when he wasn’t working on it. It is still there in the box – waiting for him.

[eddiesolo]

I am so sorry to hear this news regarding John. His last post was on the 12th Jan regarding Ian's Harrier. Me and him talked about our illnesses and how they can be knackering but you just have good and bad days and get on with it. He always seemed positive and I enjoyed his builds very much. A very terrible shock and my sympathies to you and your family.


When I am next in the workshed messing with some plastic I shall raise my mug of tea to you John.


Si...saddened.

[spanner570]

I'm so sorry to read of your dad's passing. I remember him well. His builds were first class.


My condolences to you and your family - and I too will raise a glass of something to the memory of 'Modeller Jono'


Ron

[Guest]

It really is a shock to hear this terrible news. His builds were fantastic and always well finished. I'm sure he will never be forgotton this forum. My sympathies with you and your family

[papa 695]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dads passing. I liked seeing his builds and the little chats on line.


It is with a heavy heart I send my condolences to you and your family at this time John will be missed.


Ian

[Guest]

Thoughts are with you.

[takeslousyphotos]

I remember some of John's post and builds they were superb. Sadly, I never got to know him....... we all pass through this life far too quickly. My condolences for the loss of your father. Dad`s are irreplaceable........ I miss mine far too much.

[Guest]

It really is a shock to hear this terrible news. His builds were fantastic and always well finished. I'm sure he will never be forgotten. My sympathies with you and your family

[Guest]

I'm so sorry for your loss I will raise a glass to john, I have enjoyed watching his builds. My missus mum died on the 1st and she had copd my missus sends her condolences and says she is so sorry for your loss too.

[Guest]

Having lost my pop, I have a pretty good idea what you must be going through. Hang in there and know there are people around the world keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

[Guest]

What sad news but how fitting your post is to his memory. I thank you for doing that, it couldn't have been easy. My condolences to you and your family. It may be of little consequence but know that he was respected and admired on here as you can see by the above posts and will be missed.

[Guest]

So sorry to hear of your sad loss, condolences to you and all of your family.

[Guest]

So sorry to hear of your loss, all the Roberts family send condolences to yourself and your family.


Cheers Andrew

[tanktrack]

very sorry for your loss , condolences to the greater family