The legacy of a prominent Hillsborough campaigner who died after a brave battle with cancer will live on due to the way he helped pave the way for justice, his friends said today.
John Glover, 72, lost his 20-year-old son Ian in the 1989 disaster and was an ardent campaigner for the truth.
A founding member of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC), he died on Monday at his family home in Walton.
Speaking on behalf of his family, HJC spokeswoman Sheila Coleman said he was a huge loss but his legacy would live on.
She said: "I saw in him a searing passion for the truth. The respect he commanded was immense.
"From an early stage John was suspicious of how things were proceeding and became aware of the cover-up.
"He was a driving force for justice and the truth to be revealed."
John leaves wife Teresa, children John, Tom, Cathy and Lorraine, and a number of grandchildren.
In October 2011 John was diagnosed with cancer and doctors told him he might only survive until that Christmas.
But he bravely hung on against the odds and for the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel last September.
The panel's work revealed Ian was one of the 41 victims of the disaster who could have been saved.
John's determination to get the truth led to him helping to launch the HJC. He was played by Ricky Tomlinson in Jimmy McGovern's groundbreaking 1996 TV docu-drama Hillsborough.
Sheila said: "Ricky could get his teeth into John's character because of his honesty. He knew right from wrong - he would not be fooled by anyone.
"The knowledge John acquired exemplified how ordinary people, when treated badly by the system, will educate themselves and fight back."
The Hillsborough disaster took a huge toll on the Glover family.
John's son Joe, who was with Ian at the tragedy, never recovered from witnessing his brother die.
Tragedy struck again almost exactly 10 years later when Joe was killed in an accident at work aged 32.
He was crushed by marble slabs but heroically pushed a workmate out of the way, almost certainly saving his life.
Sheila added: "The toll Hillsborough took on John's health cannot be underestimated. He lived with two traumatised sons after the tragedy.
"He fought for survivors to be recognised, which was very important."
Sheila said despite coming to know John through such tragic circumstances she had fond memories and many moments of humour.
She said: "No matter what the circumstances you were always welcome when you went to see him.
"It was an honour to have known John and call him my friend. I valued his opinion and I trusted him implicitly.
"If you want to see community then you need look no further than the Glover family, their front door always open and kids running in and out.
"The family will miss him so much because he was a life force. They adored him and are heartbroken because he was such a lively figure."
Source: Liverpool Echo
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