In 2018, John retired from a lengthy career as a financial advisor. He immediately enrolled at Wrexham Glyndwr University to study history, gaining a BA (Hons) degree in 2021. A grandfather of two boys, John is a keen photographer and is a volunteer towpath ranger for the Canal and River Trust based at Trevor, near Wrexham. John is writing a sequel which will see Raymond and Bonnie masterminding the search for Mr Digweed's missing beagle pup, Bobby.