Colin was born in Bristol to Cyril and Gladys Julian, living in Easton with strong family ties to Cornwall.

His father took him to his first Bristol Rovers match as a young child, and Colin became a lifelong ‘Gashead’. As a teenager and young man he went to stadiums all over the country to watch away matches.

Colin’s father died when he was nine years old and his mother was very proud when he passed the 11+ to attend QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) School. Beginning in 1961 as a weekly boarder, he was 5’8” tall age 11 and his contemporaries remarked on his size when he first started, thinking he should be with the older children. He had lots of stories from his schooldays and he made some lifelong friends there. A keen sportsman, his experiences at QEH would shape his interests for the rest of his life. He had a love for cricket as well as football, playing for many years after school for the Old Elizabethans Cricket Club, based at Clifton Rugby Club. 

After leaving school in 1968 Colin worked in local government for Bristol City Council before making a career change into financial services. He met Mary whilst working for the Council marrying in 1974 and settling in Downend. They had a daughter, Emily and a son, Alan. Colin always enjoyed visiting new places, and after retiring Colin and Mary enjoyed travelling to many new countries and river cruising. Colin caught Covid on holiday in 2022 which led to a stroke. He was diagnosed with vascular dementia the following year and passed away peacefully in July 2024.

~ Written by Colin's daughter, Emily. 

Colin, who was at QEH during the Swinging Sixties, made a big impression on all his contemporaries especially his fellow boarders.

John Hollingdale (1962 - 69, Captain of School) says, "For us boarders, Colin was such a big part of our lives. The fact he was physically big and a year older than us meant we all looked up to him and we all followed his lead in so many ways. John Mayall’s death last week reminded me of Colin’s influence in turning us boarders into blues fans. Football in the yard was dominated by Colin’s huge presence. It’s hard to imagine that larger than life figure who so coloured my school life has now gone."

And boarder Paul Tarsey (1961 - 68) says, "I am so sad to hear of CCJ’s passing, he was a giant amongst us, in every sense. To this day I can hear the theme from Exodus which he used to play with great gusto on the dining hall piano at, what seemed, every opportunity. It was never played softly or melodiously but belted out with the enthusiasm he always had for everything in his life."

After School Colin became a stalwart of the Old Elizabethans’ Cricket Club, turning out for them regularly until the late 1990s. And he became a mainstay of their bowling attack - John Hollingdale again: "I remember his bowling which was so deceptive. A spin bowler but the ball came through so quickly."

Colin was also a lifelong Bristol Rovers supporter, and at a time when the boarders were kept under strict lock and key, we day boys could never understand how Colin was able to get to so many Rovers' home games during term. This included one celebrated occasion, an evening game, when he was spotted in the infamous Tote End at Eastville Stadium in full boarder's uniform.

Colin was also responsible for introducing a new word into the QEH lexicon - spaestro! - which means beyond excellent, and we his contemporaries use it to this day.

RIP CCJ.

~ Written by Peter Knowlson and Mike Reed (1962 - 69)