May 8, 1936 - October 21, 2019
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, John Godfrey Pimlott.
John was born in Prestwich (Greater Manchester), Lancashire in 1936.
John was a trade unionist, social activist, democratic socialist, lifelong member of the NDP, passionate supporter of Manchester United Football Club and champion of the underdog. He was a brilliant man who left school at 15 to apprentice as an electrician and then, beginning at age 18, served 3 years as a peacekeeper (1955-1958) first in the Suez Crisis, then in Cyprus in the Grenadier Guards. John brought his young family to Canada in 1968 determined to escape the stifling class system in England and to make a better life. Raising his family in his chosen new home of Winnipeg he worked first as an electrician for Manitoba Hydro, then served in two successive, progressive NDP governments led by Ed Schreyer from 1970 to 1978. In the latter part of his working life he was the Director of Unemployed Help Centers in Winnipeg and in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1996 John migrated to Vancouver Island. For the past 23 years he lived first in Duncan, then Chemainus, BC where he spent many happy times in the company of friends, continued to work for the NDP and volunteered at the local Royal Canadian Legion. Later this year he will be honored with a Life Membership Award in the NDP, recognition that deeply touched him. John is survived by his loving children: Nick and daughter-in-law Kathy Deuchars (Toronto); Justine and daughter-in-law Maya Gallus (Toronto); Iain and partner Lisa Tober (Winnipeg); Duncan and daughter-in-law Pam (Winnipeg); grandchildren Alistair, Douglas, Leah (Toronto); Kelsey (spouse Karl Chan), Erinn (spouse Jarvis Lee), Aidan, Colin, Liam and Emma, as well as great grandchildren Avery, Sophie, Veronica and Ivy, and extended family members Kim Taylor Edgar and Andrea Brown Pimlott, all in Winnipeg. John was predeceased by his beloved sister Betty Taylor in the UK.
We thank Dr. John Kinahan and colleagues of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria for their care in John's last weeks of life. We are especially grateful to the dedicated, compassionate and caring nurses and staff on 7 South who looked after John like he was one of their own family. We are also grateful to John's friends Christine Weicht and Brenda Hay for their special care.
A scholarship in John's memory will be established through the Royal Canadian Legion, Chemainus Branch.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Royal Jubilee Hospital Foundation in John's memory.