John was my godfather—a role he took very seriously.
He had an enormous influence on my life and on my career as an artist and illustrator.
One of my earliest memories is from when I was two or three years old. He had his chip shop in Canton, and he gave me a pack of crayons and let me draw on as many sheets as I wanted from the huge stacks of chip wrapping paper.
As I got older, he encouraged my creativity by giving me boxes of professional watercolour paints.
He also took me to the cinema to see my very first film, Goldfinger—a memory I've never forgotten.
Most importantly, John was there for me during my troubled teenage years, offering support when I needed it most.
Thank you, John, for everything. God bless.
Michael Wall
01/08/2026
