I'm very sad to report that John passed away today (20/04/2021) in hospital near his home in France from cancer after what seems to have been a fairly short illness. I've only known John just over two years since he came to live near us in Brittany so I'm hoping someone who knew him a lot better than me will add to this post. I know John has been involved in the past with the organization of HU events in France and he even spoke of organizing one here in Brittany, which I was looking forward to helping him with.
He became known to us as John the chip as he was always happy to help with the deep fat fryer when our friends were catering for biker guests staying at their gites.
I last saw John in January and at that time he was still active and riding his bike. He will be sadly missed by the friends he has made since his move to Brittany.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

So very sad to read of this. I first met John at one of the French HU meetings and we stayed in touch every so often. He was out on his bike only last month. A true gent, someone who gave a lot to our community.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I am devastated since Roger, neighbor and close friend of John, announced his death yesterday afternoon.He was such a good bloke and a true friend....
After having spent a week in hospital where his cancer was detected too late, John came back home for a couple of weeks but had to be hospitalized again in an emergency a week ago and was unconscious since then.The unfair battle stopped much earlier than we all expected, it has been impossible for his friends to go and visit him, due to C19 pandemic sanitary rules, no visit was allowed. Thanks to a nurse, John had the chance to see his sister on whatsapp just few minutes before passing away.
I'm not going to talk about the darkness of these few last days, I prefer to remember him cooking (he was a very good cook), smiling, laughing, riding and always making new projects. The last few months have been a disaster for travel projects, we were supposed to do the NC500 last spring but a microscopic virus decided not to let us.
I met JOHN for the first time in the Aveyron in 2013, when he organized with Gemma and Mark the first French HU meeting (in fact it was a mini meeting) John alias Pongo made a very good job of it, we were only 15 or 16 attendees but there was such a warm brotherhood feeling i decided to join the team until we passed the French HU Meeting organization handlebar to Thierry Floreck after the great 2016 edition in the Lot (where it's still happening). At this time Pongo was still living in La Buzatière in the Limousin. Everytime i was traveling south i was stopping at his place and he was doing the same when he was heading north via Normandy. Three years ago he moved to Brittany to get closer to family, and we had great time over there too. I will miss you john, I sure you are riding in peace now, side by side with Pierre and Gypsy... See you in my dreams mates....

This was posted on facebook by John's friend and neighbour
Our Good Friend and help mate - John Whyman , better known here as " John The Chip" sadly passed away in Guingamp Hospital on Tuesday 20th April . John moved to Lanrivain just over two years ago from the limousin region of France. He was heavily involved in the motorcycle world web site Horizons Unlimited. A network created to help world motorcycle travelers. He organised meetings in France for Horizons Unlimited and was a well known figure in the Biker Traveling world. He moved to Brittany to be nearer to the UK and also most importantly to be nearer the sea he so loved. John moved into a hamlet close to Burlaouen. He had put a message on the notice board of the HUB , part of the Horizons Unlimited site asking if there were any motorcyclists near where he was moving to in Lanrivain Brittany. Paul Myers a biker friend of ours living not too far away , saw the notice and informed John that we lived close to where he was moving to and also informed us of Johns impending move. We soon became good friends and it was not long before he was rolling up his sleeves and became chief chip fryer and was also always at hand to answer questions on world travel to inquisitive Bikers. John had had some health issues but no one , including John , realised just what was wrong and how serious it was. Declining health and hospital visits for tests revealed he had advanced cancer. Visiting him at his home just over two weeks ago ,after our return from Mexico , Linda thought he should really be in hospital as his ability to even stand had become difficult . Linda phoned the hospital -we are in COVID lockdown - to see if we could take him . They readily agreed after she had explained the situation. We took him to Guingamp where he had already undergone tests. He was immediately admitted. Because of the COVID restrictions we were not able to stay with him or visit. Due to his acute pain he was sedated and never really woke again , passing peacefully on Tuesday afternoon. The staff at the Hospital were extremely kind and helpful under difficult circumstances. His Funeral is on Tuesday the 27th 12 noon and he will be cremated at Carhaix. Because of restrictions there will only be a few of us there but we have been informed that we can give him a motorcycle escort to Carhaix . Its the least we can do . R.I.P William John Whyman 195I - 2021 Ride In Peace
Roger and Linda Nicholls

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of John's sudden passing, we were talking not long ago about spring is coming and how we both needed to get out for a ride!
John was a great supporter of HU and all we try to do, and we are extremely grateful to him for support over many years. He was the chief instigator of the HU France Travellers Meeting, and I know the HU France Team are very grateful to him, and have posted in French on Facebook and elsewhere about that. His enthusiasm was contagious!
He will be sorely missed. We'll be riding in spirit with the motorcycle escort.
Grant and Susan

From the HU France Team 2021:

Nous avons une bien triste nouvelle a partager avec vous. John whyman, l'organisateur du meeting HU pendant 4 ans de suite (2012 à 2016) a rejoint la route des étoiles hier. Britannique ayant élu domicile en France pour y couler une douce retraite John était le pionnier des organisateurs qui se sont succédés pour préparer les meetings en France.
Ici une photo avec Ted Simon de sa dernière participation La légende qui l'a tant inspiré pendant des années lui avait demandé lors de la réédition française des voyages de Jupiter d'en rédiger la préface.
Vous qui l'avez déjà croisé, vous n'oublirez jamais son petit accent, sa gentillesse et son organisation rigoureuse de l’événement.
John il te reste à découvrir un univers au delà des étoiles au guidon de ta moto, tu pars en éclaireur nous trouver un coin pour les bivouacs de nos futures rencontres de voyageurs quand nous te rejoindrons.
Reposes en paix. Pensées de Soutien à ses proches.
L'ensemble de l'équipe organisatrice présente ses condoléances à sa famille.

We have some very sad news to share with you.
John Whyman, HU meeting organizer during 4 years (2012 to 2016) went to the stars yesterday.
British, he was living in France to enjoy a sweet retreat with more favourable weather to ride his bike. John was the first organizer who succeeded to plan meetings in France.

Here a picture with Ted Simon from his last participation The legend who inspired him so much over years had asked him to write the preface for the French re-print of « Jupiters Travels »



If you have ever met him, you will never forget his little accent, his kindness and meticulous organisation of the event.

John, you still have to discover world beyond the stars on your motorbike, you are going to find the best place for our next travellers' meetings when we will join you.

Rest in peace. Thoughts of support to his friends.
The organization team send their sympathy to his family.

John's funeral was today. He had an escort of 10 bikes on his last journey in superb Breton sunshine. The funeral director was amazing and even relayed the service to John's sister and family back in the UK with Whatsapp.


John's sister and brother Mary and Jim also wish to thank everyone who has mentioned John as well as those who helped to make his funeral a fitting send off

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

When John wrote to me at the beginning of February he said he was "under the weather." It's frightening just how quickly this has come about. I'm feeling sad but very glad that he had support at the funeral.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)