Having spent many years in the classical 6th at Chigwell School (initially still wearing short trousers), John won a scholarship to study classics.

In addition to his academic and dramatic performances he also rowed for his college- Lady Margaret Hall Boat Club.  In the 1951 bump races (the Cam being narrow, boats can't race side by side, so they start a fixed time apart and if a boat gains so much on the one ahead that it bumps it, then this counts towards a score. If a boat achieves 3 bumps during the races, the crew get to keep their oars; his is still proudly displayed in the dining room at Stondon.  Unfortunately he also acquired a leg injury which plagued him on and off throughout his lifetime; he then turned to coaching, cycling along the tow path whilst shouting his advice and encouragement.  This apparently led to the first occasion when "Daddy fell into the river"; he repeated this several times in later life; he certainly fell into a gap between the bank and an Oxford punt when attempting to re-enter having bypassed a lock and again when spending a holiday on the Norfolk Broads with some life-long friends travelling in their motor boat

Sheila was his guest at the college May Ball in 1953