John Eddington

EDDINGTON, John Alexander John was born into a Quaker family in Norwich England (Norridge) in 1921. He attended a Friends (Quaker) school and Cambridge University, completing his medical training in London Hospital. During World War 2, he served with the Friends Ambulance Service in London. John remained involved with Quakerism throughout his life. After qualifying he went into family practice. He met his wife in 1952 and after a whirlwind courtship they were married and their first child was born a year later. Elizabeth was followed a year later by Terrence, then Mike, Hilary and Mary Ann. The entire family, plus 2 dogs, a cat,2 budgies, and 16 steamer trunks and suitcases emigrated to Canada (Saskatoon) on the Empress of England in 1966. They arrived in Winnipeg to a full fledged strike by CN rail, (the first national strike in Canadian history) which required them to make a long and hot drive to Saskatoon in an over-cramped car loaded down with kids, animals, and luggage!!!!!! On the way they stopped at Riding Mountain National Park where they could recuperate and enjoy the sights. The Journey was filled with new and fascinating discoveries, such as extreme summer heat melting butter into a liquid and the miles of flat rolling wheat fields of the Canadian prairie. During the family's time in Saskatoon, John practiced at the Community Health Clinic and the Tuberculosis Sanatorium. In 1970 the family moved to the Grimshaw area, and then later to Edmonton where John practiced at the U of A Student Health Services until his retirement. John and Joan moved out to the Pickardville / Busby area in 1987, where together with Joan and his daughter Mary Ann, he ventured into Welsh Pony breeding. The name of the business, Crignant, was taken from the name of the village in Wales where his mother was born. John enjoyed the ponies even though, with only a few exceptions, he could never tell them apart. The world of pedigrees was even more to his liking and it wasn't long before, with newfound expertise he was discussing the world of pony breeding with other breeders. John was very musical and played several musical instruments. He also enjoyed singing and was most recently a member of the Westlock Community Choir. He loved Classical, old Jazz, and Big Band music and spent many hours listening to and recording it on his tape recorder. Over the years he acquired a memorable knowledge of music and entertaining stories. John was also a talented amateur photographer and family holidays were spent waiting for him to take just the right shot of scenery, flowers, grasses and wildlife. Oh, and the family as well, of course. John was also very knowledgeable about computers, having started with one of the very earliest models of home computers, which he had to program himself. This interest followed him into his retirement when he kept up with the very latest models and programs. After moving to the Legal area in 1993, John's health gradually deteriorated until he finally died in the Palliative Care Unit at Norwood Auxiliary Hospital in Edmonton on November 23, 2009.