Jonny was born in St John’s Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, on 26th November 1970. His brother, Matthew, was four.
Jonny’s parents, Terry and Marianne, met in Ilford during their teen years. They married late in 1958, and worked hard to become homeowners after Terry finished National Service. He worked his way up to a good job with Ford Motor Company, and eventually they started a family.
Jonny was always cheerful, outgoing, and adventurous.
Jonny always had a rich imagination. In those days they mostly made their own entertainment; TV was a limited part of their daily diet. So, making a fort out of a cardboard box could keep them happy for hours! It also gave Dad opportunity for a good photograph!
Jonny and Matt’s parents made wonderful childhoods for their children, helping them to become interested in the world. There were many wonderful birthday parties.
There were holidays in various places with family friends, including Scotland near Perth, Devon near Lynmouth.
While on holiday on the Mediterranean coast in Spain in 1976, Jonny managed to nearly drown in the villa’s swimming pool. The swimming ring he was using was too large, and he slipped through it. A friend shouted, “Auntie Marianne, Jonathan’s sinking!” Within moments, his mum was in the pool, fully dressed, fishing him out. Fortunately, he was fine.
The family moved to Exeter in 1977 for Terry to study art at college.
In Exeter, Jonny went to Ladysmith First School for two years.
During these years they spent plenty of time with family and friends, including a visit to Dartmoor.
Terry had a lifelong interest in photography which led to many wonderful photos.
Jonny was always very sociable, so it’s no surprise that he shone in the Cub Scouts, going away on camping trips and participating in charity events and football tournaments.
He also had some experience of football becoming a contact sport.
Jonny started with music during the early years in Exeter. He used his brother’s old descant recorder, then a larger recorder joined it soon after. He had natural aptitude and musicality. But his family knew he really wanted to play the clarinet.
Money was an issue for the family in these years. His parents saved up and bought him a clarinet. Matt recalls hearing him crying with joy after he came home to find the instrument waiting for him in his room.
He shot up the grades in these years while at Ladysmith Middle School, always with distinction.
Sonia Newton taught him clarinet during these years.
Jonny took up the piano after a brief try-out with the violin as a second instrument. John Hammond was his teacher for both.
He also played in school orchestra, and in others in the Exeter area. He took part in a number of competitions where he always did well, if not taking first place.
Jonny’s talent led to him being accepted into Chethams School of Music in Manchester. He started boarding in autumn 1983.
Due to the distance away from the school, the family moved to Chester in the summer of 1984 in order to be closer to the school. Jonny continued to board as he enjoyed it.
Jonny continued to excel and was part of an excellent wind quintet.
At the age of 16, Jonny won the National Festival of Music for Youth Open Jazz Competition, and went on to be a finalist of Trinity College of Music’s top instrumental award, the Harold Clarke Prize for Woodwind.
Thanks to his parents, Jonny was exposed to many musical styles; classical music joining the rest when Jonny started playing. Dad and Jonny shared a passion for jazz and blues, so it’s no surprise that Jonny’s extra-curricular activities at Chethams included the jazz quartet ‘Four Wheel Drive’. They played at the Albert Hall as well as other venues.
Following his time at Chethams, Jonny moved to Trinity College in London. Jonny graduated from Trinity College in 1992.
There are plenty of photos of his visits home from school.
After a short spell teaching privately and at the Music Centres in East Finchley and Edgware, Jonny started work at Mill Hill County High School in 1995. He taught clarinet lessons for two days a week.
It soon became apparent that he had much more to offer than teaching solely the clarinet, and within a short period of time he increased his teaching to include saxophone, flute and Jazz piano. Jonny’s warm and friendly personality and easy-going manner attracted more students to have lessons with him until he was teaching a record number of pupils every day of the week.
Jonny’s career at Mill Hill County lasted 23 years, during which time he established himself as an important and well-loved member of staff.
It was his expertise as an accompanist of pop songs and jazz music that Jonny particularly excelled, being able to improvise and accompany stylistically and sympathetically, not only for his own pupils but also for numerous singers. He featured in the majority of concerts displaying his brilliant accompaniment techniques for singers in particular, by playing rhythm and chords on an electric keyboard with his left hand, whilst adding melodic interjections with his right hand on the piano – and usually all from memory.
Jonny played a large part in the school’s musical shows over many years. He became the expert ‘sound technician’ and he spent many hours of his own time setting up the sound system, often to be seen up a ladder making sure microphones were correctly positioned as well as adjusting the levels to ensure the soloists and chorus were finely balanced with the band. He was indeed a perfectionist. Jonny was also an invaluable member of the show band, playing both clarinet, alto, tenor and sometimes baritone saxophones – the alto sax being his ultimate forte and he always made the band sound so professional.
Jonny went on several of the school’s music trips:
Jonny was an avid gamer and watched hundreds of films. Upon visits home to Chester, he enjoyed watching movies and discussing videogames with his family.
During the 2000s, Jonny spent time playing 5-a-side football. He later switched to training at several boxing gyms, and later he took up running. He was a keen athlete, always spending many hours at the gym every week. He was always looking for the next sport.
Over the years, Jonny taught dozens of pupils privately and created close friendships with many families outside of school.
He greatly enjoyed accompanying former pupils on the piano, and practiced with several singers. He also practiced the piano and alto saxophone privately for many years, and played many gigs in the local area.
Jonny was a talented composer and recorded just a small handful of his compositions.
In early 2018, Jonny moved into a new flat in Mill Hill to be closer to work at school.
Jonny passed away on 26th April, 2018 at the age of 47.
He leaves behind his brother Matthew, as well as hundreds of colleagues and friends from past and present.
He was loved by so many.