Big JT ‘just made everybody laugh’
A LOVING daughter has paid tribute to her father, a former bodybuilder, who “just made everybody laugh”.
John Tansley, affectionately known as Big JT, died on November 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 68.
John, who owned a gym and pubs in Beeston and Chilwell over the years, leaves behind five children – Julie, John, Carly, Shawnee and Kennedy – as well as grandchildren.
John was a popular figure in Beeston and a man respected by many.
His daughter Carly, 32, has spoken of how people have been approaching her in the streets to share funny memories of her dad.
Carly says that he had an amazing sense of humour.
In a moving tribute, she said: “I think he just had the best sense of humour ever – he just made everybody laugh.
“I think because he’s grown up around Beeston and Chilwell and, apart from living in Dubai for a bit, knows everyone here and he owned a gym and owned the pubs.
“He’s worked here, there and everywhere and he’s just so popular, he always has been.
“Everywhere I’m going people just keep stopping me and they all seem to know my dad!
“They’ve all got funny stories that they keep telling me.
“I’m not surprised that people keep reaching out. I knew he was well liked.
“I think he was just very respected as well.”
Originally born in Attenborough, John spent most of his life moving around Beeston and Chilwell.
He was married to Carly’s mum, Suzannah, who died nine years ago.
John was a bodybuilder years ago, entering competitions and appearing in magazines.
He owned pubs across Nottingham such as the Durham Ox and The Jesse Boot (formerly The Greyhound) in Beeston as well as a gym called Joint Effort.
Due to his impressive physical stature, Carly joked that you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of John.
She added: “He was a big guy. Back in his day he was a body builder so he was a big, muscly guy so I think a lot of people had respect for him.
“They wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him!
“But he was one of those people that would do anything for anyone so if anyone was ever in trouble or they needed help he wouldn’t think twice to help them.
“He did all sorts – he did so much! He owned his own lorries at one point.
“On Humber Road in Beeston he had an old place, I’m not quite sure what it was, but he turned that into a gym.
“He got into all his bodybuilding and did all the competitions and was in all the magazines.
“It wasn’t always great for me. I wasn’t allowed a boyfriend or anything – they were all scared to come round!
“Mine and my sisters childhood was growing up in a pub so you have like a million adopted aunties and uncles.
“Our relationship was amazing. We were really close.”