March 30, 2012: We sadly record the death of John Edgar Mann, local historian and author.
John Edgar Mann has touched the lives of many Sotonians as a journalist, follower of jazz and folk music and as a prolific author of books on local history.
Born in Thornhill Park the octogenarian lived in Southampton for most of his life except during WWII when his school was temporarily transferred to Bournemouth.
John spent a 42-year career in journalism with the Southern Evening Echo [now the Daily Echo] ranging from office boy, reporter, sub editor, cinema and theatre critic, feature editor and probably his endearing role as the columnist ‘Tom Bargate’.
In 1963 John co-founded the Fo'c'sle Club – now one of the longest surviving folk music clubs in the UK. In 1975 John released his concept album Folk Songs from Hampshire for Forest Tracks.
Anyone interested in the heritage and local history of the city will at one time or another picked up one of his many published books. These include Hampshire Customs, Curiosities and Folklore, Highfield-a village remembered [with Peter Aston], Story of Bitterne Park and reflecting his great interest in music, For the love of Mick -Ha-ha's amongst the trumpets [with Toni Goffe].
John was a vice president of Bitterne Local History Society and Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery.
In his later years John resided in a care home and died after a short illness.
John Avery
Photo: Chris Mitchell (taken on John Edgar Mann’s 80th birthday)