A WARRINGTON-BORN graphic designer, who drew everyone from Dennis the Menace to Desperate Dan, has died aged 58.

John Geering, who grew up in Latchford, brought joy to millions of comic fans with his illustrations.

"He'd done the lot in his lifetime," said his widow Barbara. "He designed Bananaman and drew just about every character in the Beano and Dandy."

John, who also illustrated children's books, designed Ken Dodd's Diddymen and worked on the big screen version of Roald Dahl's BFG, was an artist for 31 years and he had his wife to thank for his big break.

"One day I went to the post office in Knutsford Road and bought every comic on the bottom shelf," she said.

"I got all the addresses and sent some of John's artwork to the editors. By chance one of them was due in Manchester the next week, They met, hit it off and John just went to the top of his profession."

John, a former pupil of St James's Primary School and Richard Fairclough Secondary School, met Barbara, of Winwick Road, when they delivered letters for neighbouring solicitors. To help John's design work, the couple moved to Comberbach 31 years ago where he set up a studio behind their home.

But Warrington always felt like home. "We are homing birds," added Barbara, 59.

"All our family are still in Warrington and we attended St Benedict's Church, Orford.

"John's day was all about being creative. They sent him scripts and he'd come up with the drawings. Sometimes they would ring up and say 'we've got this problem' and he would say 'forget your problem, it won't be there tomorrow.'

"I don't think he could have coped without his creativity. He loved drawing for children everywhere."

John leaves Barbara, two children and one granddaughter and the family have received tributes from all corners of the comic world.

Andrew Thomson, of DC Thomson, the family firm which was his most regular customer, said: "He has been a marvellous contributor to our magazines and we shall certainly miss his work and his frequent visits."

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