I am very sad to report the recent passing away of John Conboy.
John was a long serving member of the CMC committee, most recently as our Development Officer, and widely known in East Anglia for roles encouraging people to get involved in motorsport.
I am at a loss how to finish this post, and as deeply saddened as all the people who knew him will feel.Our thoughts are with his family.
Jim Bowie Chairman
A great loss - he will be sorely missed.
I put some words together for the Motorsport UK newsletter Revolution , at the end of April, which some of you will have seen. John was an ex employee of MS UK as a Go Motorsport Regional Development Officer.
An elongated version of my words , was then published in the Anglian Motor Sport May Newsletter and I thought it appropriate to re-print it on our website.
" It is with great sadness that I piece these words together about John Conboy, and so hard to believe that we won't hear that distinctive South Lancashire burr from him again.
I have received countless messages from friends both inside, and outside of the club saying "he's the first person that talked to me about getting involved, or taught me to navigate, or simply encourage me". I remember the very first club night he arrived at, with his wife Sally, in around 2005. He'd done a bit of rallying in his Lancashire youth, and was looking to get out again, and indicated a willingness to get involved at an organisational level. I latched on to that straightaway , and sensed that Sally quite liked the idea of him having a busy hobby of his own - manna from heaven to a car club committee!
I loved teasing him about his Accrington Stanley accent ( he played for the reserves once!) which 25 years in Essex did nothing to soften. Well, we certainly got him "stuck in" and soon had him on the committee, eventually filling the role of Club Chief Marshal (who ever wants that job!) and latterly as a Training & Development Officer.
Along the way he got involved in equipment management, stage set up, 12 car organising and Clerking Targas. He once navigated Daytona 24 hour Class Winner Robin Liddell on The Preston in 2007, and often stepped in to Nav at the last minute whenever asked. Whilst Sally kept away from the motor sport side, their children Adam and Amy both had a go at competing and Amy has recently been involved in Clacton Stage rally promotion and stage marshaling. In our early days of developing Woodbridge Airfield as a stage and test venue, Johns former Oil Tank replacement business TRS Essex Ltd , became a handy supplier of plastic oil tanks to protect the metal gateposts. In fact the business went on to sponsor our Brands Hatch Stage Rally and some Targas.
His business yard was suitably nearby to become our cone store for a couple of years AND supply the vehicles to get the kit there - one famous Isuzu pick up named Zebedee had many of us in fits with its mechanical idiosyncrasies. John was also handy with concreting, generator repairs, caravan & portacabin purchase - and toilet supply!
Outside of Motorsport John had a love of Motor Cycles. He used to go on jaunts to Assen in Holland and the Nurburgring with a bunch of mates. The family also has a small holiday home in Zante which Sally goes to at least 3 times a year, but John usually went once or twice a year. Due to Greece having Easter a week or two later than here, John unfortunately missed both previous Clacton's (as Sally booked the flights) so this year would have been John's first Clacton.
We sure are going to miss him.
Deeply shocked and saddened to hear of John's passing. A great clubman and ambassador to the sport. Condolences to all his family and friends.
Graham Robinson
There will be a Family Only Cremation tomorrow, at 2.00 pm for our dear friend JC.
When things are back to normal, there will be a wake/celebration of his life at a venue in Thorpe Le Soken, which I will publicise on here.
For now, out thoughts are with his family, and I will raise my glass to him at the appropriate hour.
Jim