Roll on John

Roll on John- you burned so bright

It’s a long time since I wrote and despite all temptations to do so about the dreadful situation we are in now, the madness of the markets or the challenges of working from home I’ve resisted. I’ve resisted all temptation which is rather odd considering the subject that has tempted me back to writing. The death of another old friend.

John Philip Charles Langton-Lockton, what a name to start with. A name that drums up a bygone era possibly a war hero, a pilot maybe. Well no. Johnny, as he was known to all and sundry, was a money broker at R.P.Martin in the mid 1970s when a more buccaneering spirit prevailed and your capacity to drink and entertain were as important as your ability to add up. I learnt about the sad, premature death of Johnny earlier this week from “wun monf,” also known as Steve Pickering, who we had worked with back in the day of the old Martin’s office in Coleman Street.

Johnny was part of our little group of brokers that took the whole concept of work hard, play harder to the extreme. The cabal consisted of Johnny, Gary Bone, Charlie Evans, me and Jim McCartney. Sadly Johnny, Gary and Charlie have gone to the great dealing room above and well, God knows what happened to Jim. Well actually I do know some of what happened to him …he disappeared to RPM in New York and married the girlfriend that I was involved with at the time and was never heard of again. Well not by me anyway.

I’ve written about Gary in the past and as I wrote then I will repeat now. He was without a doubt the best broker I’ve ever worked with and over the last five decades I’ve worked with many of the best. But we all bowed to Johnny and he was the leader, without doubt El Capitan. I never really worked out why till I started thinking yesterday about it. He was always immaculately dressed in a loud pinstripe or chalk stripe from Gieves and Hawkes, wore Gucci loafers and whatever we had got up to the previous night looked perfect. He was, I’m guessing now, a few years older than us, was married, had a house and a car all objects of desire to us mere humans.

I can hear his voice now saying an almost dismissive “Dear boy, let us have another round before we go” and he mightily impressed on me the importance of style. Style in everything that you do but most importantly how you dressed. He introduced me, as well as Gary, to his tailor and we started wearing glorious suits. He also educated us in what shoes and ties to wear. This influence stayed with me for years and I sit here, whilst I write, at home wearing a suit and tie in honour of him. 

As the market closed for the day we would pop into Shorts in Gresham Street, just for a sharpener you understand, and then move gradually West to the Zanzibar in Great Queen Street, The Loose Box in Knightsbridge and then on and on and on…. till it was time for work again. Johnny loved his music and I can just about remember a wild night in Hammersmith watching Blondie make their UK debut, which of course was just the prelude to the fun. We must have been nightmares for all and sundry, girlfriends, employers and family for which I’m regretful. I guess a money broking version of Withnail and I.

I’m pretty certain they had two children together who I hope get to read this. Johnny always had a good eye for art and I understand that he ended up painting in his later years and in a photograph of him, I found on the web, I swear I can see that he’s wearing Gucci loafers! Over the years we grew apart mainly as we pursued different avenues of employment and now I’m sad. I’m sad that those fun days have gone, I’m sad that we lost contact but mostly I’m sad that another character has gone.

Theres only two of us left standing now from the originals Crispin Buxton and myself, how ironic . I guess one of the reasons I am, was that I was normally the quickest one to fall over! I am left with a vicious scar above my right eye, after we tried to drink a whole bottle of Tequila in 15 minutes at Café Pacifico, to remind me of that fact. 

Well Johnny, as we all used to say before we fell asleep on sofas or floors “see you on the beach” and make sure you have a cold Vodka, Lime and Soda ready for me when we all meet up again..

Roll on, Johnny, Roll on.

Photos Old by Peter James Beckett and Young by Steve (Wun Monf) Pickering