ARTHUR DAVID JOHNSON – 6th May 1938 – 21st July 2022

A Tribute (BVGS 1949-56)

Always better known to all of us as David, he was born in West Bromwich on 6th May 1938 and lived there until the family moved to Sutton Coldfield in 1949.

It was then that David moved from Beeches Road Primary School in West Bromwich to Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.

During those school years David was a choirboy at Maney Hill Church and was a member of Goldeslie Tennis Club later joining Four Oaks Tennis Club. He was also a member of Royal Sutton Players performing in many operatic productions in Sutton Town Hall

I first encountered David in 1954 as a newly arrived first former and he became a form prefect before leaving for Birmingham University to study Economics. After graduation in 1959 David joined Peat Marwick and Mitchell and trained in accountancy along with Barry Wild, a contemporary from BVGS.

Having gained ten years accountancy experience David joined the family firm of Johnson Veterinary Products in 1970. The firm had been started in 1921 by David's grandfather and had developed a reputation for innovative and market leading products.

David took over as Managing Director in 1984 and the business grew under his leadership before he took over as Chairman; a position from which he never really retired.

It was about that time, upon our return to Sutton Coldfield and my joining Moor Hall Golf Club and the OVGS, that my acquaintance with David was renewed after many years.

A lot had happened in David's life in the intervening years. He had met and married Joan in 1968, become a father of two daughters and later a grandfather. His enjoyment of performing had persisted with his ability and love of singing, an accomplished pianist and a party piece of reciting Albert and the Lion poem with appropriate accent! He had also taken up golf firstly at Beau Desert Golf Club before joining Moor Hall in 1975, becoming Captain in 1989 and President in 1998.

His presidential legacy to Moor Hall Golf Club was to donate 14 miniature conifers to mark the 150 yard distance to the centre of the green on all the par 4 and 5 holes. Many remain to this day although some have disappeared due to the alterations to the course and subsequent remeasurement. David shared his golfing life between Moor Hall and Little Aston golf clubs on a regular basis not to mention joining in Old Veseyan Golf Society competitions when time and business permitted. He was kind enough to invite me on one occasion to the Little Aston pre-Christmas competition, famed for a warming beverage at the half way house and a splendid lunch.

All memories of David are of warm enjoyment be they at golf club quiz evenings, on the golf course or latterly whilst out walking around Four Oaks estate during the covid lockdown. We would often meet purely accidentally as David exercised his dog accompanied by his pal Bob Spencer and we would stop and have a socially distanced chat.

David died on 21st July 2022 and his funeral was held at St. Peter's Church, Little Aston on Tuesday 16th August 2022. David's popularity was amply demonstrated by the overflow of the church by attendees at the service.

David Johnson will, above all, be remembered for his friendly and smiling demeanour and his kind and generous nature. A true gentleman.

NWH