John Robert Andrew Jack (B 1966 - 1970)
John Robert Andrew Jack (B 1966 - 1970)
We have received some sad news recently about the passing of John Robert Andrew Jack, also known as John Jack among his friends. He was born in 1952 and attended Allhallows from 1966 to 1970. John was a part of Baker House and served as House Prefect in 1969. He was a member of several societies and clubs such as the Astronomical Society, Gramophone Society, Sports Club, Mechanics Club, Natural History Society, XX Club, and the Rousdon Social Club.
Personal reminiscence:
As a member of the school’s 1970 1st XV, I was sad to learn of the recent death of John Jack. John and I came to Allhallows in September 1966, and we were both in Baker. John had come to an Exhibition and so went straight into the Remove. He already had a brother at the school, Robin, who was an excellent gymnast.
John was a complex character, bright and often outgoing but not necessarily easy to get to know well. We first started playing together on the rugby pitch as Foals and then through the Junior Colts and in 1968 in the Senior Colts when the side went through the season undefeated. John’s development as a rugby player after that really took off and in 1969 he was awarded his 1st XV Colours playing Fly half and won the Prentice Cup that year as the most improved player.
The following 1970 rugby season was one of the best in the school’s history, playing 16, winning 14 and drawing none. The school’s points tally was 297 against 74. Of those 297 points, John (who was Vice-Captain) scored 136 of them mainly as a result of his placekicking or dropped goals. In the end-of-season report that appeared in the school magazine the team’s coach, Richard Ambrose, wrote:
Jack was in many ways the attacking genius for his side; his handling and running were the basis of many tries. He kicked extremely well in both attack and defence as well as lifting the side’s morale with some wonderful dropped goals at vital moments, two in particular, against Wellington and Newbury, being the turning points for victory.”
So far as I am aware, John is the first member of that 1970 team to have died. I am sure that all those who played with him in that successful season will remember with pleasure the success that we enjoyed which in no small part was due to John’s skills.
As well as his prowess on the rugby pitch John was also a good cricketer, playing for the 1st XI and winning his colours in 1970.
PACS