John has specialised in bereavement counselling for 25 years. From 2000 to 2017 he worked at Saint Catherine’s Hospice Scarborough, as a trainer and counsellor working with bereavements from any cause.

In 2017 he completed a PhD and, in the same year, retired from Saint Catherine’s Hospice. He was awarded a visiting fellowship of York St John University and was appointed Director of the Bereavement Service at York St John University Communities Centre, a voluntary, but very active role, which includes training and research.

He is the author of two books, Supporting People through Loss and Grief: An Introduction for Counsellors and Other Caring Practitioners (2013), and The Plain Guide to Grief (2020). He is a national and international trainer, and his research has been published in academic journals.

John lives in Kirkbymoorside with his wife Sandra and two cats, Freddie and Mira. John is passionate about making bereavement theory and practice widely accessible.