Tribute to John Caisley (1941 - 2025)
We are saddened to hear of the passing of long-standing member, John Caisley. John passed away after a short illness at the age of 83. Paul Gyseman, Don Pennant and Claire Hutchinson have written tributes to John.
Thank you for Paul Gyseman for the following tribute:
John Alfred Caisley was born on 23rd December 1941 to Joe and Marjorie Caisley and grew up in Ilford, Essex along with his sister Janet, who survives him.
After leaving school in 1957 he joined the Office of The Lord Chancellor in Westminster, where he remained for several years before leaving to take up a career in trade marks with Reddie & Grose, then with offices in Bream's Buildings, off Chancery Lane, just round the corner from the Patent Office in Southampton Buildings.
I first met John in 1966, shortly after I had myself joined Reddie & Grose, aged 20, as a trainee trade mark agent. He had left shortly before my arrival for a brief spell of six months at ICI's in-house Trade Marks Department under Eric Wenman, before returning to R&G and passing the Institute's entrance examination that year. I remember being impressed by his easy manner and apparent self-assurance, as well as his irreverent sense of humour. Our third trainee was Richard Callaghan, and the three of us would set forth at lunchtime, armed with our luncheon vouchers, to various greasy spoon restaurants (never the pub in those days), for all the world like a trio of overgrown schoolboys.
John had married Margaret on 2nd January 1965 and always thereafter his family were the keystone of his life. The Institute organised evening lectures at their offices in Cannon Street and many attendees would gather afterwards to socialise over drinks in a nearby pub. John would join us briefly but was always keen to get away after a swift half to be at home. He was nevertheless a very clubbable man, at ease in any social situation.
Time passed; I was now at Marks & Clerk in Lincoln's Inn Fields and it happened that John joined me there. We worked under Julius "Joe" Joseph, head of the firm's Trade Mark Department, where, by today's standards, the atmosphere was extremely relaxed - long lunches in The Hercules Pillars in Great Queen Street would be followed by a card school (five card brag was the game) back in the office; this in spite of the fact that we were paid commission on our billings, meaning that time was money!
I left M&C in 1980 to join Langner Parry. John remained until 1981, when at the age of 40 he left M&C to form a new firm of trade mark agents along with Mike Grant, Adrian Spencer and Alan Porteous under the name Grant, Spencer, Caisley & Porteous (known, mostly affectionately, as Grasp, Spendthrift, Cutthroat and Cautious) in association with John Murphy's Interbrand brand creation agency. It must be remembered that in those days patent agents were only allowed to enter into partnership with other patent agents, so partnership in a patent firm was not open to trade mark agents; hence an important attraction of a trade mark partnership.
Throughout his career John was active in the affairs of the Institute of Trade Mark Agents and later the Chartered Institute. He became a member of the Council of the former in 1993; was elected Junior Vice President in 1996 and Senior Vice President in 1998. Ordinarily he would have been elected President in 2000, but given his deep involvement in establishing the new firm he felt he wouldn't have been able to devote sufficient time and energy to the office of president. John was also one of the original trustees of the CITMA Benevolent Fund that was set up in 2010.
John retired in 2003 at the age of 62. In his younger days he'd been a keen squash player; later he took up golf and this remained an important part of his life right up to the end. Otherwise his life revolved around Margaret, his children Sheriden, Lawson and Tamsin and their families. He and Margaret celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year, receiving a card from the King and Queen. He will be very greatly missed by his family and his many friends.
John's ashes will be interred next to his parents on the Essex coast in a private family moment. In accordance with his wishes his plaque will read:
John Alfred Caisley Born 23rd December 1941 Died 14th March 2025 None the wiser
Thank you for Don Pennant for the following tribute:
I first met John during an interview at GSC&P (then then the longer version) in 1991. He was cool and calm and showed genuine interest in me, my past and future aspirations. He took me on as his trainee and we worked together for 12 happy years with great clients such as Ford, Aston Martin, Sainsburys, Whirlpool and a number of famous music stars.
We worked hard but John was always up for having fun: lunches in Charlotte Street off Tottenham Court Road, The Mitre off Hatton Garden and numerous Chinese and Indian restaurants. We managed a game of squash once but his love of golf (he took much persuasion to investigate this hobby) came later on so we never played.
John was always kind, caring and considerate and a good professional. He had a great way with clients. I fondly remember our trip to NY and Washington just after 9/11 to meet law firms we used and to present to possible new clients. I am now sorry not to have caught up with him in latter years. I’m sure he would have retained his wry, subtle sense of humour. RIP JAC and condolences to Margaret, his children and anyone that knew him well during his life.
Thank you for Claire Hutchinson for the following tribute:
When I joined Grant Spencer Caisley & Porteous in 1994, John Caisley was both a respected professional practitioner and the finance man, managing cashflow and the technicalities of running a business, a role he continued until retirement. John kept the business on its tracks through thick and thin being extremely organised and timely. He could not understand people who left things to the last minute and worked at least two weeks ahead of deadlines, allowing time for the unexpected and ensuring that he could get home to his family, whom he placed at the centre of his life. He was perturbed by people taking long lunches and then working late, as was common in the profession at the time. Family life was fundamental, and he placed high value on others’ families too, always respecting that sometimes things just come up, and that home and health must take priority.
When we sadly lost Adrian Spencer to serious and unexpected illness in 1998, other partners considered their futures, and some brought forward their retirements. Soon there were seismic shifts in the partnership, eventually leaving John and I with 50:50 shares in a thriving but demanding business. A deadlock like this could have been difficult but never was as John was more than willing to compromise; any disagreements were quickly resolved. Mostly we didn’t disagree.
John was a very fair person and believed in doing what was right; he was gentle and fair to staff especially supporting young men finding their way in their careers. He could also be tough with senior staff if not pulling their weight and would make his feelings known, never allowing unfairness to continue. He had a wonderful sense of humour catching us out all the time with his jokes. He was the ultimate gentleman and extremely protective of female staff, colleagues, and clients, at events or elsewhere. He always walked on the outside of the pavement, symbolically taking the role of protector even when there was no threat and even if he thought the female concerned was quite fearsome themselves.
From the very first day we worked together, John was supportive, loyal, and fun to work with. We had daily chats about this or that matter, serious or otherwise, but we almost always ended up laughing. Sharing worries about cases was often met with, “look, its only chocolate (or whatever) – nobody dies.” A rather difficult but substantial client, who had taken a dislike to me, once suggested he get rid of me; John gently and politely assured them that the firm would not be better off without me. He recounted this event to me with a chuckle, saying he did not want to upset them in case I wanted to hold on to them, but he would be quite happy if I wanted to fire them. When they did eventually go, he saw it as a blessing, and said we don’t want to work with people like that.
One of our discussions concerned a young school leaver who could not make it to work on time and was prone to taking “duvet” days giving spectacular excuses. My efforts to bring him into line failed miserably and John said he would handle it and would have strong words on Friday that would put an end to his lateness and days off. On Monday morning John appeared in my office in fits of giggles, saying that he had just had a call from the young man in question who would not be coming in, as he was “resting his eyes” after a family barbeque on Sunday.
John made me laugh every day, usually intentionally but sometimes just by being John. John always carried a large black briefcase but delighted in showing me that the contents were not files but sandwiches, personal things, and an umbrella. When things got tough, he always found a bright side to focus on or made light of the downside. Conversely all achievements were celebrated, and he balanced out my tendency to take things too seriously.
John cracked work life balance and never expected more of others than he expected of himself. His long enduring marriage to Margaret, whom he adored, carried him through life, and his care for and love of his children and grandchildren was central to his existence.
He had a large circle of mates within the profession and outside of it, including Paul Gyseman and so many others. Paul Gyseman has already set out John’s career, and his achievements at our firm are self-evident in the firm’s reputation and success. I speak of him as a man, rather than the successful professional that he was, because John placed value on life above work. When John retired, he was profoundly missed by me, by our clients and by others in our firm. As usual everything was left in good order, and his clients were transitioned with care and respect. He is now also missed by his wide family and many friends.
In the end, John’s passing was unexpected and quick, leaving us shocked and saddened but I think we all know he got the end he wanted with no fuss. The rest of us will just have to manage.