(Below Left) Mrs Eileen Mockler meeting Pope John Paul II taken by the Official Vatican photographer
one week before the assassination attempt.
(Below Right) John was the only volunteer out of 17000 volunteers and paid workforce of about
1000 to receive the MBE.
John was a long term volunteer and worked over 2000 hours of voluntary work in the preparation of the
Commonwealth Games. John then worked about 250 hours as a Flag Bearer at the victory medal ceremonies. When
the Games were over he topped a total of 2500 hours when he helped to catalogue the Games archives. John was
then invited by Tony Blair to a reception at Lancaster House and a couple of weeks later was sent a letter
from Mr Blair to say he had recommended John for the award of MBE. Since then John has been a volunteer with
the Post Games Group working at the London and Salford Triathlons. John has been accepted as a Volunteer at
Melbourne and will be working in the Athletes Village.
(3rd Photograph) John and his brother George were recently awarded Year of the Volunteer
Awards, which were presented to them by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire. George received his for his work
with the Talking Newspaper (He tapes the Warrington Guardian distributes it to those with sight handicap) and John's was for
being an inspiration to others.
