John Frank Bunney, better known to the New Covent Garden community as ‘John Connell’, died in December, aged 77.

He was born to Margaret and Frank Bunney, in Southwark on October 13^th 1947. Mum lived in Maiden Lane and at the age of four, John was sent to boarding school in Hemel Hempstead by Margaret, who was unable to both look after a young child and run the family business she had taken on in 1944.

The firm had been in The Strand and part of the original Covent Garden since 1826, when it was set up by Mary Connell, John’s great aunt, who then handed it on to his aunt Jane. When it passed into Margaret’s hands, it became M Bunney & Son, but continued to trade under its J Connell name.

By the time John joined the business as its fifth generation, aged 18, having finished his education at a second boarding school, in Lindisfarne in north Wales, J Connell still specialised as it had from the outset in watercress. However, under his stewardship, the firm spread its wings and began wholesaling a far fuller range of fruit and vegetables, adapted to the changing marketplace and moved to Nine Elms in 1974. The business began to deliver more of its produce into the catering trade. It became John’s life; he put his heart and soul into building it and in turn became much loved and respected within the market community.

John’s daughter Gina, who was training to be an air stewardess, inadvertently became the sixth generation of the family in the Market after dad quite literally shot himself in the foot and put himself out of action for a few months. She came in to work alongside Marcus Rowlerson and loved it so much, stayed for 13 happy years. John retired himself in 2011 and the business was run by Marcus, in partnership with Grenville Snowdon as part of The French Garden, before being renamed as Le Marché in 2017 and becoming a firm that supplies the ‘FTSE 100 of the catering world’.

John was a collector. He was a very good shooter and won many trophies, but also had an incredible classic gun collection, which was highly valued when auctioned off at Sotheby’s. He was passionate about antiques and ran two shops, in Greenwich and Gravesend. He owned hundreds of classic cars and bikes over the years, his driveway often filled with Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Bentleys and other classics of various vintage. And he had a wide collection of classic signs relating to the motor industry too, which now adorn the walls and garages of his three daughters.

His home was also full of memorabilia from his favourite place – the Market – and John has a treasure trove of memories from both Covent Gardens. He was fascinated by the history of the Market and regularly wrote to his friends and colleagues with interesting facts and historical references that related to them, their families or firms.

John married his wife Janet in 1971 and they had three daughters. Gina’s sisters are Esther and Daniela and between them they have six children. He and Janet split in 1996 and John found new love with Maureen, with whom he shared a very happy time until she sadly passed in 2013. His final years were blighted by Parkinson’s and then Dementia, though he was surrounded throughout by family. He died on December 18^th. “We loved and adored him and he leaves a huge hole in our hearts,” said Gina.

His many friends at New Covent Garden Market would sincerely echo that sentiment. RIP John.

John’s funeral will take place on Monday January 20^th at 11am, at Thamesview Crematorium, Gravesend, DA12 3JH. There will be a gathering afterwards at The Knowle Country House, School Lane, Higham. The family asks that any donations in John’s memory be made to Parkinson’s or Dementia charities.

Marcus Rowlerson kindly asked some of John’s closest colleagues and friends for their memories:

• Gavin Gardener, Sotherbys fine and vintage sporting guns specialist, who had of course seen it all in the world of guns, remembers John well as a buyer in the 1980s and then later as a vendor. "Visiting John and his Aladdin’s treasure cave was always a pleasure," Gavin said. John had a passion for royalty and their guns. Nothing was ever ordinary in his collection.  It was always John's ambition to have his own auction of royal guns and he succeeded in doing that in 2015 at Sotherby’s, with his friend Gavin as the auctioneer.

• Barrie Coe at Kingfisher Watercress had supplied John's mother Margaret before he supplied John in the old Covent Garden. Barrie said: "My fond memories of my early days in the market include always being warmly greeted by John. He was one of our very loyal watercress customers. He also enjoyed visiting our watercress beds here in Surrey and would take the opportunity to combine his visit with a little shooting, ensuring he didn't go home empty handed!"

• Back at NCGM, Bruce White, Nicky Griffin and Gary Marshall - to name but a few - all remember a door that John put on display each morning in the market.  The door was covered in bounced cheques and written across the top: "You know me John, I'm alright".

• Bobby Kent, who worked opposite John for many years on the Growers Pavilion, said:  "I first met John when I went to work in Covent Garden as a young salesman around 45 years ago.  I can honestly say that John was one of the nicest and most genuine people I ever met in the market.  One of my fondest memories was going up an old wooden ladder to John's office, which was made out of old bushel boxes, to collect a cheque.”

• Graham Budd said: “ To me John was an inspiration and a great friend. Someone you knew would always be there if you needed him. I truly miss him. Bless you Bun.”

• Grenville Snowden was one of John's oldest customers. He said:  "I have always looked up to John, but then most people did. He was a very tall man! I looked up to him regardless of his height!”

• Fittingly, Marcus himself, who worked with John for more than 30 years, ends the tributes:  “If John was here today, he would enjoy telling you about the day we first met – "Give me two quid or I will smash all your windows!" This was the start of a 45-year friendship, he was my shooting buddy, the best man at my wedding and in an emergency, day or night, I’d call John.

“We remained business partners until his retirement in 2011, after which John continued to be my confidant for the business,” added Marcus. “His confidence in me and the sage advice "you will find a way" has led to the unrivalled success we have today.  I have so many stories of the adventures we had, but one common thing in all of them was the laughter.  He was highly respected by all that knew him and will be greatly missed.”