This page is in respect of

John "Leek" Field

On Tuesday 21st October 2003 John Field, known throughout the European and F1 Powerboat world as "The Leek" passed away.

John was one of the founder members of the Osprey Rescue team who endured the rain and cold of UK races for many years.

John had many friends in Powerboat Racing, Bill Seebold, Ralf Frohling, Jon Jones, Bob Spalding, Tom Percival, John Hill, Guido Cappellini, Andy Elliott, to name but a few, all shared a beer with John after races.

John was in his late 50s, he was born in Wales, hence his nickname "The Leek" and spent his early adult years as a lumberjack on Cannock Chase. The work was hard, spending days in the woods with just his horse for company, out in all weathers, working long hours.

John had a great sense of humor and was the perennial "naughty boy" always looking for a way to enjoy himself, this usually involved beer of some sort. John lived most of his adult life in Bridgetown where he was a colourful local character known as "Taffe" who disappeared abroad to exotic destinations on regular basis.

His interest in Diving, being a member of the Stafford Sub Aqua Club, precipitated his joining the Team. He was a strong and skillful diver, able to free dive to over 30 meters. John would dive at Stoney Cove on a Sunday Morning, followed by an afternoon of Rescue Duty at Chasewater.

When the Ospreys were contracted to the F1 World Series this became John's life, taking precedence above most other things. Many driver owe their life to John, who was always first into the water after an incident.

Unfortunately John was injured in an road traffic accident which curtailed his Rescue activities.

John leaves a wife Lynn and 4 children,
Andrew, Susan, Timothy and Tina, our thoughts are with them.

The "Ospreys"