John Funnell

October 2, 1934 - January 4, 2026

John died at his home January 4.  He was 91.  A member of Great Pine Ridge Section, he will be greatly missed for his enthusiasm and contributions to motorcycling.

John grew up in London, UK.  He worked as a motor car mechanic and played guitar in skiffle bands in his spare time.  He always seemed to have a motorcycle, or two, and he raced and rode regularly.

John and his wife Christine immigrated to Canada in the mid-1970's and settled in the GTA.  He continued to work as an auto mechanic.  John joined CVMG in 1991. In the following years, he became a a restorer, exhibitor, rider, insurance appraiser, concours judge, GPR section member and executive.  

Please add any anecdotes or photos of John to this post.  There will be a funeral service on January 31 - click below to see details.

Click poster to enlarge

Brian Barrett, GPR's most-easterly member, sent me several photos of John.  They are attached here.

When Brian lived in Scarborough he and John had many adventures.  According to Brian, on one ride to the Great War Flying Museum in Brampton,  he and John did a sightseeing tour in a small plane.  Always a gentleman, It wasn't until after landing that John revealed he was afraid of flying!

The attached photos are from Brian's collection.  They capture John at various events, plus a Norton Atlas and Matchless that John restored

I met John shortly after I joined the CVMG (2001?). The Newletter led me  to the CVMG meeting at a gas station in Ringwood Ontario. John and a couple of his section cronies at a booth admitted they were part of the CVMG and went back to their breakfast.

Over the quarter century since then I got to know John and respect his enthusiasm with and contribution to vintage motorcycling. He was a founding member of the Great Pine Ridge section and a regular presence at the annual Paris Rally and leader of section and history rides. John mentored me in vintage appraisals when he started to withdraw from that service and as I learned from a lifetime friend in the music business, was equally respected in that world as well.

For those that knew John, I found he had a nickname. I won't share it; let's say that it started with an NCO military rank and ended with a name on an iconic Beatles album.

Good speed John, my life is richer for having known you.

PS: The picture is from the fall of 2021 Fall Colours Ride which John led.