John Nicholas Lloyd Bentley 1939-2013
John Bentley was born in Sheffield on 24 August 1939.
The family was not actually living in Sheffield but his Dad, Edward (Teddy) drove him across the border, so that he was born in Yorkshire and consequentially, would be eligible to play cricket for that august team in later years. This may well go some way to explaining his lifelong addiction to sport.
When Nick was born WW2 was declared, although I am assured that the two events were not connected! Nick spent most of his early childhood years in Wolsingham and Darlington, County Durham. At the age of 4 or 5 he and his cousin Peter were, for a short while at the local convent school.
Later he was one of the last group of young men to be called to do National Service, before it was discontinued. A period of his National Service was spent in Germany and it was when he returned to England in 1960 that he met Barbara. She was 18 years old and he was 21. They married in 1967, in Westminster, but later that year they moved to Caversham Park Village, as housing in London was so expensive. Matthew was born in 1973 but, sadly the marriage was not to last, however, they remained good friends.
Nick spent the first part of his career at British Rail, where he remained for the best part of 30 years. At age 50, one of his best friends and mentors – Peter Kay, told him about a job that he thought was right up Nick's street, that of facilities manager at an American computer company, Sun Microsystems. Well, he got the job and took the plunge and joined them. It was a job which he really loved.
Throughout his life Nick had a real passion for sport. When he was young he had been an enthusiastic participant in athletics but rugby was an abiding interest. He and his friend John Hecht travelled to many venues to watch International matches, Scotland, Rome and Paris and then with Geoff Tresman, Howard Sarkar and a few others, a trip of a lifetime in 2003 to Australia to see England win The World Cup.
Nick was also an inspirational cricketer, setting up his own team, Emmer Green Cricket Club, when he lived in Caversham Park Village and playing regularly all around the area.
The later years of his life saw him embrace golf, which he played with the same enthusiasm that he brought to so many other sports. He was immensely proud when he was asked to be captain of Aspect Park Golf Club in 2003. He truly was a dedicated sportsman.
Initiated in Durham he was a lapsed Freemason until we realised that we shared a common interest. Nick became a joining member of Khalsa Lodge meeting at Sindlesham. He had no real ambitions regarding progression and remained a Steward and sadly resigned in 2011.
As a Master Mason he was introduced to Bombay Chapter Rose Croix No 18 on the 27th March 2009. Although he didn't play an active part in the Chapter he enjoyed the fellowship of the Brethren. I was somewhat surprised that his funeral was a civil service. He lived respected and died regretted.
David R Jarvis
Recorder.