Jack has had Parkinson's disease for about 5 years now. Each day is hard for Jack. He is physically weak and his voice is weak, accordingly. His mind still has great amounts of knowledge that each of us wish we could download on a CD. I have been able to attend several of his classes since 1998. Each class I learn something new. I recorded much of his class of 1998 that was conducted at Murray College in Oklahoma and once in a while play them to reinforce my memory. I am glad that some officially recorded what Jack has to contribute to us.
His knowledge of the trade in Birmingham during it's last gasp is great also. It has been a pleasure listening to him describe and comment on people he knew in the trade when he began as an apprentice in 1947 at S. Wright & Sons.
There are still a few people in the trade in the gun quarter of Birmingham working that knew and know Jack, such as Malcolm Cruxton in Price Street, Birmingham. Malcolm will likely soon retire and we will lose one of the best and quickest stockers in England.
