Following John’s death on 25 April 2011, at least 200 family and friends attended a Service of Thanksgiving in St Paul’s Church, Winchester on 10 May. During his address, Charles Corrie, John’s son, spoke about John’s early life living in Jerusalem and then of being sent to boarding school in the UK which he seemed to have loved, getting scholarships both to Winchester and later to Trinity, where he graduated in Law. His first post following graduation was with Burmah-Shell, who sent him out to India in 1951. John loved India and, despite arriving when the scars of partition were still sore, met fascinating people through his work and his travels, some of whom became life-long friends. While John was working in India and on his second leave home, he met and married Gill, their happy marriage lasting over 50 years. He worked over much of the whole sub-continent, including Hyderbad, Bangalore, Bombay and Calcutta. On leaving Burmah-Shell, he used his entrepreneurial skills in various areas of work until he finally retired.
It was at school that John’s life-long passion with music began. He played the flute, violin, viola and clarinet and it was while in Bangalore in 1961 that John, through his music, met Fr Theodore Mathieson and so was introduced to the Oxford Mission. He and Thoedore became firm friends, and when John and Gill were living in Calcutta in 1996, John used to go out to Behala to play music with him and the boys. He was deeply religious, and felt it was essential to give something back in life and so readily offered to support charitable activities, including the Oxford Mission, of which he was Chairman for 26 years, retiring in 2006, and a committee member until his death. When the Fathers and Sisters came on furlough in England, they would often stay in Winchester, and more recently, John and his wife made many happy trips to visit the Oxford Mission in Behala, Barisal and Jobarpar.
As Charles said, he was the ultimate Aries personality – rushing hither and thither into everything, always inquisitive, always lively, always living for the moment, yet loving, kind and supportive to all. He will be missed tremendously, but know that he now rests in a better place.
In the matter of a few weeks I lost two great friends who I loved dearly, Mother Susila and John Corrie. I knew John Corrie for over 25 years and during that time found him very supportive and a font of all knowledge regarding India (Bangladesh). He was an excellent travel companion – I have many happy and amusing memories of our visits to see the work of the Oxford Mission in Behala, Barisal and Jobarpar. I shall miss his wonderful sense of fun and humour and his zest for life. He was a remarkable man. God bless him.
Editor’s note: other tributes to John can be read on our web-site (click here)