INT: We usually finish by asking what you would say were the high points and the low points in your life. Would you like to finish off by telling us that?
JM: The high points of my life….
I got the MBE, which is something.
INT: For your war work?
JM: Not for my war work. For my work for the local community in Pitlochry.
INT 2: Because you became a Councillor after you retired, didn’t you?
JM: Yes, I was a regional Councillor and then after eight years I lost my seat to the SNP and I then went and became a district Councillor and I had another four years as a Conservative Councillor there, and it was through that that I got put up for an MBE.
INT 3: You did a lot of work bringing industry to the region?
JM Yes, oh yes and I was a Governor of the theatre, Pitlochry Theatre, various things, and I started things like Arthritis Care and other things, the Rotary Club, chairman of the Rotary Club.
There were various things which I did when I was in Pitlochry, which I consider to be my hone town, and which I considered where I come from. Pitlochry is very deep in my love. I am very fond of it, and I think Sharon is too, all my family life was there. I have got sixty-nine many happy married years with Etse. I hardly know that I am this terrible age. I must say that being together for all these years, Etse and I together.
The last four or five years haven’t been quite as fruitful, as they were before. Etse has become troubled with dementia and just recently, of course, she is now in a care home, but I go and see her every afternoon and will continue to do so. And Sharon does too. My family are very close to me, my granddaughters. And my grandsons are in London. I don’t see them very often, but I hear from them, and my son I don’t see very often but I do hear from him; he is in California. All three of them – two sons and their father are all film cameramen, and they have all done very well and have a happy life.
INT: Any low points? You sound as if you found the army very exciting . Would you describe the army as a low point as well?
JM: No, I look back as the army as probably what has been responsible for my long life. You live a healthy life. You don’t eat too much. You don’t drink too much. Well, it is up to you what you do, but I look to the army. If anybody asked me, I would say take everything in moderation and spend seven years in the army. You can’t go wrong.
INT: Thank you John, that was really interesting.
So, Sharon you were going to tell us a little more about your father?
Int 3: I was just reminding him about Mum’s engagement ring and how he purchased it.
JM: Well, it just so happened that I met a German, who asked me if I had any cigarettes. Fortunately, I had a whole room full of cigarettes and he had what I considered to be a nice ring on, turquoise, an amethyst ring, Sharon knows more about the ring, so I gave him fifty cigarettes for it.
Int 3: The story was Mum gave the ring to Rachel, my youngest daughter, who treasured it and one Christmas she went out and the stone fell out of the ring, and she was absolutely devastated and searched high and low for it. She had been out clubbing but couldn’t find it. About a year later a friend of hers had been out walking the dog and something caught her eye and there was the amethyst lying on the ground and they found it.
JM: In London.
S. No, it was in Edinburgh. It was obviously meant to be found.
