Lt Acting Capt_John Wright

Lt Acting Capt John (Jack) Wright. 04 Aug 1927 - 21 Dec 2022

I am sorry to bring you news of my father's death. At 95 years old and after 33 years' retirement in Normandy, there are unlikely to be any who remember him but, as an Oldham lad and proud former Fusilier I know that he would want me to share the news.

Born in Oldham in 1927, Jack joined the Midland Bank on leaving school in the war years. Still too young for conscription, he became active in the Army Cadet Force. His early banking career was paused for National Service in 1946 (only 6 months after his father returned home).

During initial training he was selected to attend the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot before being commissioned into the Lancashire Fusiliers. Soon after, he was seconded to the Gold Coast Regiment and spent the next 2 years with the West African Frontier Force in what has now become Ghana.

In 1948 Jack was invited to accept a Regular Commission and remain in the Army but he chose to return to England and pick up his banking career. Not long after his return, he met and married his wife Jean in his native Oldham. They were still married after 71 years.

Jack remained in the Oldham/Manchester area throughout the 50s and, at the same time rose to command the local ACF detachment. He also pursued a love of hillwalking. In 1960 he moved north to the Midland Bank branch in English Street, Carlisle. This was followed by time in North Wales, first at the branch in Mold and then Colwyn Bay before returning to Carlisle as Chief Clerk in 1969.

In 1972 Jack became manager of the Maryport Branch of the Midland (later HSBC) in West Cumbria. While in Maryport, he was active in the Rotary Club and treasurer (albeit not a playing member) of the golf club and St John's Parish Church in Crosscannonby. He retired in 1981 .

With their eldest son, Malcolm, teaching in London, their youngest, Geoff, serving in the Army and on a complete whim, Jack and Jean moved to Normandy in 1989. They had never even visited France before! They remained there until 2020 when circumstances and failing health, lead them move to live with Geoff and his family further south in the Loir Valley. His final months were spent in a Care Home.

He is survived by Jean and will be missed by Malcolm, Geoff, their families and friends in France and the UK.