John was born in Nottingham in 1950. Having passed his 11 plus, he moved on to a local Grammar school, where he achieved a modicum of educational success. In 1968 he was accepted by the local Regional College of Technology (now Nottingham Trent University), on a four year Quantity Surveying degree sandwich course. He obtained his BSc in 1972, and then joined the local office of a national quantity surveying practice. He achieved RICS qualification in 1973. In later years he set up his own Project Management and Quantity Surveying business, which in 2013 is still going strong despite John's personal retirement in 2000. Nowadays John occasionally carries out property development tasks, by purchasing and upgrading domestic properties for sale or rent.

John met Judith in 1981, and they married two years later. Judith went on to become headteacher of a local Infant and Nursery school. They now live in Kegworth, adjacent to East Midlands airport. They have no children.

During his school and business life, John began to take an active interest in many local sports. He became a county-standard hockey player, and a regular golfer. But his greatest love has always been cricket, and he has played for many years, albeit at a very average standard. At 62 he still turns out occasionally for a local club. John has also played social-level soccer, squash and tennis. His support for Nottingham Forest Football Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is lifelong.

John's other interests include writing, trains, gardening, foreign holidays, and DIY.