John Fogg RIP 2023

John Fogg RIP

Photo and obituary courtesy The Stoke Sentinel

John passed away peacefully at Wimsly Care Home on Sunday 10th December 2023, aged 91 years.

A loving husband, son, step dad, uncle, granddad and gifted jazz musician, he will be sadly missed by all his family and friends and those that knew him.

John's funeral service will take place on Friday 5th January 2024 at 11.15am at St John's Methodist Church, Llandudno followed by the committal at Colwyn Bay Crematorium. Donations in lieu of flowers will be gratefully received towards Alzheimer's Society.

Please visit www.tomowenandson.com/funeral-notices to view details of the funeral service or how to donate.

12/12/2023 -

I've just heard from Dave Timmis that our (very) old friend, John Fogg died suddenly last Sunday. Dave found out when he phoned the nursing home where John was living with his wife to get the address so as to send them a Christmas Card.

Originally from the Potteries, John moved to the Wirral for his day job in the 1970s. He played with a number of bands at different times and will, I'm sure, be known to a good number of your readers.

This is my contribution to his memory - Keith Garner

John Fogg
Died Sunday 10th December 2023

John in 1968

I first saw John around 1958 as he played with the Crescent City Stompers in a pub in Hanley. What I only found out later was that he had no transport and that he and the trumpet player had to walk every week the two miles from his home carrying the drums between them - and back again afterwards of course. A short while later he joined the band I was with and I met him properly. When he left us he joined the local Gloryland Jazzband and not long afterwards, when they needed a banjo player he suggested me. Our first gig together was in Ellesmere Port Town Hall and the other band was one we'd never heard of, The Pacemakers, led by a chap called Gerry Marsden - I wonder what happened to them!

The Gloryland folded when its leader left the area, at which point I resurrected my own band The Five Towns Footwarmers with John on drums. He had some good contacts and we did well over the 1960s. In the 1970s we both ended up in Pete Brown's newly-formed Mardi Gras Society Band - originally with Terry Brunt and Roy Rodgers, later with Fred Fydler and Mike Turner. John took part in our trips to the continent and was a regular member of the band until he moved to The Wirral for his day job. Later he'd sometimes arrange for some of us to play at the Victoria Hotel in New Brighton on a Sunday lunchtime. I have a note of a recording I made in February 1976 where John and I played with a band which also included John Lawrence, Jon Critchley, Dave Renton, Robin Tankard, Alistair Wallace and Dave Thomas who, I'm sorry to see, has also passed recently.

John was always good company - if we weren't playing on a Saturday five of us used to enjoy a trip to the Manchester Sports Guild for some great jazz. We still kept in touch - mainly by phone - after his move to the North West. More recently I was glad to meet up with him from time to time, most often when Gerry Owen asked me to dep with The Tuxedo at The Old Wallasseyans where John was a regular. I'm hoping that some of those who knew him more recently will be able to share their memories of my good friend of more than sixty years.

Although I do remember John once being pressed into service to back the Three Monarchs harmonica act, he was at his best keeping a band swinging along. He's doing just that on the recording below of The Mardi Gras Society band playing at The Crown at Codsall. It's from the early 1970s and, apart from John and me the band is Pete Brown (Tpt), Mike Turner (Clt), Fred Fydler (Tmb), Brian Lawrence (Sbs), Bill Bickerton (Pno), and our special guest Bud Freeman on tenor.

In closing I want to offer my condolences to John's wife Jill and to say to him "Thanks for everything John, rest in peace".

John with The Mardi Gras Society Band playing Riverboat Shuffle

14/12/23 -

So sorry to hear of the passing of John Fogg. John was a member of the Savoy Jazzmen in the 1980’s. He took over from Bobby Boyd. He was a wonderful drummer, continually listening to what was going on around him and driving the band along. Always on time for gigs and had a great sense of humour. Up until the pandemic he used to come along every few months to our concerts at the Palm House and sing a couple of numbers.

Such sad news.
Condolences to his family and friends
Peter Swensson. (The Savoy Jazzmen)

John with the Savoy Jazzmen

Photo supplied by Peter Swensson

17/12/23 - Very sad; John guested with the Panama many times, super chap with a good sense of humour: He used to say, tongue in cheek(?), that "I called my dog "Acker": he can't play clarinet, either"! Always remember his driving style, and singing "Blue Turning Grey".

Condolences to Jill.

Jon Critchley

30/12/23 -

I first met Foggy when he came from Stoke to Moreton Wirral in the 70's. He used to come and listen to the band on Sunda lunch time and Panama on Thursday evening. He used to sit in and show what an excellent drummer he was. He moved to New Brighton when he married Anne and we became virtual neighbours. John had a very varied taste in jazz his favourite drummer being Kenny Clark. We played together in semi-modern quartets and trios, dance bands and of course the NORLEANS JAZZ BAND where he shared the seat with the late and wonderful BILLY MORTON. John will be missed not only as a fine drummer but as a great friend and neighbour. R. I. P Foggy and don't make too much noise up there.

Jim West

03/01/24 - So sad to hear the news about John. I played with him many times and had a very high regard for him as a jazz drummer – he could really lift a band. He was also great fun to be with – wide tastes in jazz and a great sense of humour.

Condolences to his family.

Geoff Parker