John attended St Ignatius College from 1960 to 1962, before transferring to Campion School in Hornchurch when it first opened in 1962. His father, Dr Gerry Frost was sculling champion of Ireland before the war and his mother Dr Maura Frost (nee Gannon) played Camogie for Ireland.

John was a vey talented rugby player, and indeed a gymnast. He captained his school (Campion) First XV , then played for Eastern Counties and as the first pupil from the school went on to play for a Senior club, London Irish. From school he played rugby for the Club at at our original ground in Woodford before progressing on to play at scrum half for London Irish, for many seasons for the first team. John had joined the Irish in his late teens and with brother Michael, made an impact across a number of fronts at the club: including as a motivated coach for the younger players. His outstanding talent was recognised quite early by London Irish and in the 1968 - 1969 he was awarded the prestigious London Irish Honours Tie (awarded for good play) while playing for the Wanderers Team, the second of seven teams at the time.

While John routinely represented the Irish on a Saturday, he never forgot the Club, and in the days before professional rugby and GMS registration, he would turn out on a Saturday and especially on a Sunday, whenever the club asked.

A mark of his loyalty to the Club was in 1973. John had interrupted his London Irish career with an overland drive to Australia. When he came back at Christmas, he secured a game with the Club's 3rd XV. London Irish then heard that John was back in the country and contacted him to play for them. John politely declined as he already had a game....

John also toured with the Club and the photo shows the touring team in 1974 against Thanet Wanderers (John Is in the back second from the left, in the clean shirt!).

His touring was also more elevated. In 1977 he toured South Africa with London Irish, who were captained at the time by Ken Kennedy, and included four Irish Internationals and three British Lions. The black/white photo shows John scoring a try on the tour. As a member of this ground-breaking and controversial tour to South Africa it was the first foreign side to play against a black team,

After a spell at the BBC in London, John moved to Shropshire where he oversaw the successful development of a farming and food business and the retired to Deal in Kent. After his retirement, John was a frequent visitor to the President's Lunches. More recently his health declined with early stages of dementia and then latterly he contracted an MRSA infection from which he never recovered.

John leaves behind his wife Caroline, two children and two grandchildren.

The funeral will take place this Friday 10th January at midday at St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church in Deal Kent CT14 7DB, followed by reception at the Royal Hotel in Deal.

RIP - John Frost