In Memory of Dr John Pearce
I was saddened to learn of John’s passing. Although I only knew him for a relatively short time, he made a lasting impression on me.
We met last year under unusual circumstances when my cat went missing. John kindly got in touch after spotting her and helped me bring her home. I never got the impression that he was particularly a cat lover, which somehow made his kindness even more remarkable. My cat had developed a habit of exploring John’s magnificent garden and spending time in his old greenhouse, which she seemed to consider her own private retreat. Through her adventures, I came to know John.
Over cups of tea and many conversations, I discovered a man with a remarkable breadth of knowledge and curiosity. Whether the subject was gardening, medicine, history, science, or the countless other topics that arose naturally in conversation, John always had something interesting to share. He possessed that rare quality of being both highly knowledgeable and genuinely interested in learning more.
As a newcomer to his life, I perhaps saw only a small chapter of a much longer story. He opened his garden, his home, and his time to someone who was, at first, little more than a stranger.
I will always remember John whenever I walk past his beautiful house, with its unique old-fashioned door, its slightly mysterious charm, and that gorgeous deep crimson-red acer in the garden.
In December, I bought some iris bulbs with the thought that when they bloomed this spring I would give one to John for his garden. I believe Iris was the name of his dear late wife, whom he spoke about often and always with such love. Sadly, I never had the chance to give it to him, so I will plant it in my own garden instead, as a quiet reminder of them both.
I take comfort in believing that death is not only an ending, but also a return back to those we have loved and missed. For John, I hope it was a gentle homecoming; back to his beloved.
Dr Sara Mason
06/06/2026
