I am so sorry to have to relay the news that my dear cousin, John Hagger, who wrote the blog By Stargoose and Hanglands, passed away last night. His brother Les called me this morning.
John, 2013, at Ely Cathedral
I can't say this was unexpected. As some of you who followed John's beautiful blog know, John has been ill with cancer for a while, and the cancer finally won, taking this gentle, knowledgeable, and funny man away.
With John and Les, 2016
I did not meet John until 2013, on our first trip to England, although we had been communicating via blogs and email for a few years before that. John's knowledge of England's history and folklore was deep; he led walking tours as a young man and never did get a driver's license, preferring instead to walk, bike, or take the train if necessary. As a young man he worked on farms with his father, my Uncle Ted, then later became a teacher for handicapped children. He loved both careers, and only retired to care for his aging mother, who passed away a few years ago. He wrote a moving and often amusing series of posts about his mum, who was quite a character.
2019
After Aunt Flo's passing, John and Les took many rambles together, exploring historic and unique sites, all captured in exquisite detail by John's camera, and shared with great depth of research on his blog.
I had hoped to be able to see John and Les again but Covid intervened, and then in 2024 John was diagnosed and quite ill. So now what I have is his blog to remember this special man, and my memories of my all too brief time. Still, I am so glad I had the opportunity to cross the pond and spend time in his gentle presence. What a gift that was.
Oh I'm so sorry to hear of John's passing. I always enjoyed his blogs, and his occasional remarks on my blogs. Thank you for sharing a bit about his life. I never knew the details about why he would not be walking and taking his great photos, but assumed it was illness. I will miss him even more now, because I kept hoping to have him return to blogland. I hope the blog is left open to look at some of the good walks he recorded. I didn't realize you were cousins either. It is a day when a wonderful spirit has left the footpaths of this world to fly free.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss sounds so trite. But John sounds like a very nice man who lived a fulfilled life. I'm wishing that more of us could have that kind of commentary after we're gone.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this sad news. I enjoyed reading John's blog, he was quite the character. He will be missed by everyone who came across him.
ReplyDeleteI followed John's blog for many years, although I didn't always comment. He shared some music with me [the Dungworth carols] that I revisit every Christmas season. I knew he was ill and noted that it had been quite some time since he was able to post. A lovely and gifted person.
ReplyDelete...Susanna, I'm sorry for your loss.
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