My father, John Boot, died peacefully, at home, on August 12th 2020.  He is survived by my mother, Jean, three children – Rosemary, Caroline and myself, and eight grandchildren. 

John was born in Nottingham on 15th December 1935, the son of William Arthur (Bill) and Mary Boot.  After early schooling at Mountford House he entered Prep at Nottingham High School in 1943.  Following successful summer exams in 1946, he was made an Honorary Foundation Scholar.  In 1949 he completed his last year at the High School in Form U4A and went away to Shrewsbury School where he finished his schooling. He gained a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge, to read Classics. There he changed to Law, in which he obtained First Class Honours. 

After leaving Cambridge he embarked on a legal career, and together with his brother Jim Boot, became articled to their father in the family firm of Day, Johnson & Boot. They were both enrolled as solicitors at the beginning of 1961 and in due course became partners in the firm, remaining with that firm, through several mergers and changes of name, during the whole of their working lives. 

John involved himself in local government from an early age.  He was initially elected to Arnold District Council, which eventually became Gedling Borough Council.   He stood as a Conservative, but he was at heart a non–political person and always acted in the manner which he believed was best for the community.  He had an ability, given to few, to see problems from everyone’s angle.  As a result of this he made many friends of all political persuasions.  He was recently appointed an Honorary Alderman of Gedling Borough Council in recognition of 50 years’ service in local government.  

“John was the finest of public servants…his gracious and diligent approach to public service was a fine example to all… the Council was a better place during John’s service… as a result of his wisdom, experience and methodical attention to detail” 

He had a love of nature and the countryside, and for many years he and my mother have had a caravan in Reeth, in the Yorkshire Dales, where they spent much time, and where they enjoyed walking and made many friends. 

He loved travelling and relished every family trip he took even though occasionally he did not know he was going on holiday until my mother told him shortly before departure!  As a family, we would regularly holiday in Cornwall, Ireland and the Algarve, but after we children left home, my parents ventured further afield, heading to Ethiopia, Malaysia, Australia and completing a number of treks in Nepal.  They also enjoyed gastronomic driving trips to France, returning with the car full of wine and cheese.  Most recently, they would spend January in the winter sun of the Algarve, which they loved, and even managed a last trip in 2020 just before the first lockdown. 

During the last years of his very full life he developed Parkinson’s, but even from the first diagnosis many years ago, with my mother’s help, he went on pushing the boundaries and living life to the full.   

He was a remarkable man.  

Obituary by John’s son, Peter Boot