On 21 March this year John Blanchard was the guest on Before They Leave the Stage, a YouTube series from Heath Church in Cardiff interviewing older men who had served the Lord faithfully in their generation.
Approaching his 89th birthday, John was as clear as ever, recalling his childhood, his conversion and the Lord’s faithfulness to him through 67 years as a Christian. It was his last speaking engagement: just eight weeks later, on 14 May, the Lord took him home to glory after a short illness.
John came to faith on his home island of Guernsey in 1954. Three years later he married Joyce McKane, the young lady who had invited him to the evangelistic meeting at which he had been converted. Their long and happy marriage produced five boys, Christopher, Timothy, Andrew, Stephen and Michael.