Mike Todd Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Just heard from John Slee's FB page that his wife, partner, best friend Fi (Fiona) has died. His brief note gives no details but I know that he will be devastated. Both John and Fi have been great canal enthusiasts and supporters, especially since they decided to move onto their boat full time, although they were already well experienced by that time. Fi built up an encyclopedic knowledge of the canals and was an avid blogger and Tweeter (I only really followed the blog and Christine her Tweets). They had to be determined and inventive to allow Fi to remain on board and yet still, for many, many years, access the skilled medical specialists that did so much to keep her going until now. The information they have published on their website about how to access regular medication and GP services whilst on the move has, I am sure, been of enormous value to others who find themselves in similar needs. John has invetsed an enormous amount of his energy and commitment to enabling Fi to keep on exploring the canals as a dedicated continuous cruiser. Not for them was there ever any suggestion that they would test out the loopholes in that status and their blog of their journeying is a testament to what can be done. I am sure that all of us will share in John's (and their son Craig's) grief and I really do hope that we shall see John out and about ere too long. After all, he, of necessity, became a most proficient single-hander, more especially in the recent years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Well said. I have heard their names before (the surname Slee sticks in the mind) though I can't think in what context. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB Alnwick Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 John, known to this forum as 'Big John' (a good description - he makes me look short) and Fi have been good friends and were regular visitors to Cropredy. Last time we heard from them, their boat 'Epithany' was for sale and they were planning a move to the land. Those of us who have known them will know of their struggles with Fi's health. Fi was a wonderful person and will be missed by everyone who knew her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I have heard their names before (the surname Slee sticks in the mind) though I can't think in what context. John Slee is "Big John" on this forum. He shows as last active in November, though I can't recall him posting for a while. It has been obvious from his posts elsewhere that his wife Fi was getting much weaker. Our sincere condolences to John and his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Sad news indeed, thoughts with John and the family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoominPapa Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Sad news. We saw them last at Upper Ringstead lock on the Nene in the spring of 2015. Our condolences to John and family. MP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebe Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Fiona and John were valued friends. Fiona's blog details most of her ongoing health issues and 2016 had been a particularly trying year. http://nbepiphany.co.uk/our-story/blog Thoughout John has kept us up to date with Fi's condition and he never lost hope, however late last night he messaged that the doctors thought the end was near and this morning the sad, sad news. Both times we had to sit quietly with a cuppa and reflect on a lost friend. They offered support to my wife when I was fighting my health battles and when I was mobile again nb Epiphany was my first visit. They even moved the boat so I could reach them easily. I was fortunate to spend 2 days with them in August last year. Goodbye friend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarUKKiwi Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Good bye Fi, God Speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I saw this sad news on Facebook this morning, though didn't realise that John was a member on here. Very sad indeed, and my condolences to John and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deckhand Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Sorry to hear this sad news. I loved reading Fiona and John's blog and the articles too when we were first contemplating moving onto a boat. Condolences to John and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Payne Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Follow them on twitter and dip into the blog from time to time. My Thoughts are with family and John at this hard time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while? I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while? I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving. Yes, they did write for one of the mags at one point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Sorry news indeed. We met John and Fiona a couple of years ago at All Oaks Wood. John kindly took a photo of me at the helm of our boat when we left and emailed it to me. A lovely couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsk Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebe Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while? I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving. Yes she wrote for Canal Boat magazine. She gave up writing when she could no longer work the boat and see and experience 'real' boating. She told me she could have cheated in 2016, by using details from old blogs, because they were covering all their favourite waterways as they made their way to the Lancaster for September 2016. However she thought that was cheating so she gave up. She also wrote 'North Yorkshire Waterways' for Richlow guides. John is a retired C of E vicar, he had a Cornish parish with RAF St Mawgan in it. They both had a fierce faith but never pushed it to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceinSanity Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Very sorry to hear this. I'd lost track and didn't realise how bad Fiona was. Sincere condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanA Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 (edited) Had the pleasure to share a few locks with them both at Blackburn a couple of years ago and enjoyed their articles in cb magazine. Sad news my thoughts are with the family. Edited January 29, 2017 by jonathanA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Sad news - I always enjoyed Fiona's articles and blog. Thw world is a poorer place without her and her writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I'm very sorry to hear this news. John has been a very good friend to Nabo for many years and I know how much Fi meant to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave123 Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Very sad news. I was a keen reader of their blog about nb epiphany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Healey Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Really sorry to hear this, Fi wrote one of the best, most informative blogs around, very helpful for planning and finding good moorings, met in passing a couple of times, our thoughts are with John and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 (edited) I met John several times when he had Epiphany on the K&A, and liked him. I seem to remember he was a former CoE clergyman, hence the name of his boat. I do not recall meeting Fiona, but my sympathies go to John and his family. Edited January 30, 2017 by David Schweizer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrigglefingers Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 This was such sad news on Sunday morning. John and Fi were soulmates in everything and radiated that love to everyone they met. Fi will be much missed by John and Craig and by the rest of us. Whether we knew her in person, or through the blog of NB Epiphany's travels, we have all lost someone dear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Todd Posted January 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 I met John several times when he had Epiphany on the K&A, and liked him. I seem to remember he was a former CoE clergyman, hence the name of his boat. I do not recall meeting Fiona, but my sympathies go to John and his family. As I recall it, their previous boat was called Twelfth Night - largely because there were twelve share owners. When they opted to have their own boat, and later to move onto it permanently, what more obvious (for a CofE ordained priest - which he still is) than to move from Twelfth Night to Epiphany! I guess that, in thes ame vein, Fi has now moved onto her next boat which might well be called Easter . . . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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