John Colls R.I.P.

[Paul Frost]

John passed away in the early hours of this morning, at Caritas Christi hospice in Melbourne. He took a turn for the worse on Tuesday night, and up until then he had been alert and lucid. John’s recent book about the history of the Scottish 6 Days, “A Few Surplus Maps” demonstrated his passion for orienteering in Scotland, his enthusiasm will be missed.
More on the Scottish Orienteering website.

[mikey]

What sad news. A real stalwart of orienteering.

RIP John and Tom.

[ianandmonika]

Really sad news. As you say, a real stalwart of O.

[EddieH]

I remember John as the first person I ever had a head to head race with as we set off together on the last leg of the British relays at Mulgrave Woods. I couldn't believe the pace that he ran at. Before his hip went he was a very active quality elite competitor.

[Tatty]

What sad news. He was a real gentleman andan enormous asset to our sport.

[DJM]

Very sad to hear the (not unexpected) news.

We first met John in my 94/95 year in Melbourne, where John and Sheila were fellow Yarra Valley OC club mates, making us feel very welcome indeed. We've bumped into one or both of them every couple of years since, in Australia, Scotland and various parts of Europe too. Even when obviously suffering with health problems, John was ever cheerful and full of fun.

As others have said, I'll miss his friendship, his good humour and I'll even miss his e-mails too!

[GillJ]

A Few Surplus Maps and its subsequent supplement are a splendid tribute to all that John has done for our sport over many decades. His belief in a 4 Nation Federation remained very strong, but whatever the organisational arrangements, John's contributions are to be applauded as well as his abilities as a keen orienteer in the forest. His kindness and generosity both here and in Australia will be missed. Chris and Gill

[graeme]

Interesting biography of John in CompassSport.
The thing I found most striking was that John was President of the SOA and set up the 6-day while still an M21. It somehow seems unthinkable now.

[Freefall]

John's Commemoration this Saturday. With regards to Graeme's comment - it seems unthinkable but some of us (M60 or so) still regard ourselves as M21s in our heads though the body is telling us otherwise.