It is with our deepest sorrow that we sadly announce the loss of Mr John Graeme De Barsy Hyslop, aged 72, whom passed away peacefully on 12th July 2025.
Johns life was celebrated at the ‘Our Lady of the Wayside Church‘ on 18th July 2025 at 11:00am with hymns, readings and tributes. The service was attended by many of Johns friends, work colleagues and Members of The National Trust of Zimbabwe Executive Committee.
The following readings and Eulogies were shared.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 25, verses 7 to 9.
By Mr Ben Gilpen, family friend
A reading from a letter from Saint Paul to the Romans: Chapter 8, verses 31 to 39.
By Mr Jean Goncalves
Honorary Consul of Belgium and family friend
Good Morning everyone, thank you for being here to celebrate the life of John Hyslop, a dear soul who gave his everything for The National Trust of Zimbabwe over many years. I wish to say just a few words about John’s incredible contribution to the Trust.
When I joined the Trust Council approximately 14 years ago, the Hyslop family were a very important and integral part of the DNA of the Trust. John was the Honorary Treasurer, Charles the Secretary and Helen was a very active Council member. All of the Hyslop family gave total commitment to the Trust and were always willing and available to help on Trust matters.
A further indication of their commitment, was the fact that for many years, the registered address of the Trust was the Hyslop family home, which exists to this very day.
The Trust would have battled to operate without the Hyslops’ almost daily input to affairs over many decades. This Hyslop “Dynasty” played a major role and made a significant contribution to our wonderful country’s historical and environmental heritage.
John was an integral part of the Trusts operations, managing finances through a very difficult environment, with limited financial resources. John was always available to help on affairs and gave of himself before thinking of himself. It was a pleasure to work with John over the last 14 years who always gave me the support I needed as Chairman. I shall miss him terribly, but the memories will be fondly remembered and his legacy exists within the Trust.
The whole Hyslop family will be missed by all the stakeholders at Trust.
I wish to sincerely thank John and his family for all they gave to Trust over many decades.
There is another person I wish to thank. That is Mhondo who has been a friend, supporter and confidante of John’s for over 50 years. In particular, Mhondo was with John throughout the recent years when John was not very well. Well done Mhondo, you are a very special friend.
By Mr David Scott
Chair of the National Trust of Zimbabwe
Good morning all
How lovely to be among all John’s special friends today. I’m sure he is smiling down, amazed in his unassuming modesty at how much we thought of him, and delighting in all our collective memories.
My friendship with John, brother Charles and Mum, Helen, spanned many happy years. More recently my friendship expanded to include Mhonda, Moses and Peter, his most loyal and trusted servants. Thank you guys for your amazing kindnesses, patience and dedication over so many years!
When I look at my phone in the morning, there’s an enormous gap where John’s special messages used to be. The choice of what he sent me on WhatsApp reflected what kind of man he was and what interested him:
I got beautiful renditions of sacred, much loved hymns,
I got all sorts of amazing music – jazz, classical, pop and military bands.
We shared videos of visits to sumptuous stately homes and exotic countries.
We shared good old fashioned movies – the ones that featured swashbuckling good guys with stiff upper lips.
We laughed over shared comedies like Yes Prime Minister and The Two Ronnies. John had a great sense of humour – he laughed at the world – and he laughed at himself!
And sometimes I got dizzying, wizzing videos – taken from his car window – as he sped along the road to Mazowe or pretty places like Ewanrigg Botanical Gardrens.
So even in from his armchair, John lived a rich and colourful life. And our emotions travelled back and forth in the form of every possible emoji. It was a lovely friendship where even a little question like RU OK? made my day.
But before his fragile armchair days, John and family travelled with curiosity and sensitivity and enjoyed the great outdoors both here and abroad. Their involvement with the National Trust was a reflection of how much they cared about our beautiful Zimbabwe and its natural resources. And their lovely, gracious old home in Hawkshead Drive remained beautifully, unashamedly old fashioned and unspoilt by modernity. I loved visiting him there. I’m sure lots of you felt the same in his welcoming home with all its memories of a much loved Mum and brother.
I remember visiting John at Hawkshead drive for a memorable lunch. It was great to chat and to share his lovely home and delicious food. When I got home, I WhatsApp another old friend and said that I’d had a lovely lunch with a lovely man. Back came her reply: “Libby, marry him immediately!” But John and I had a different kind of friendship: he was my little brother.
Occasionally John would open up about the bad old days – his wild days of drinking to excess. If any of you have had any kind of addiction, you will know the superhuman effort it takes to kick the habit. John made that superhuman effort and for that he needs special praise and admiration. And within his increasingly fragile frame beat a courageous, loving, determined heart. He didn’t give up, he didn’t whinge and he got on with living – with all its frustrating Zimbabwean twists and turns – with all its demands on his patience and his purse.
John worked on people’s accounts and through his business connections seemed to know everybody that was interesting. I was always amazed at the people who came and went in his life. Some of you are here today! It was rich and varied and interesting.
About a year ago we started a church at Larmenier called Young Hearts. John came along most Sundays – all the way from Hawkshead Drive – with carer in tow and oxygen in the boot. He loved all the great sermons he heard and enjoyed chatting to people. He was a devout and dedicated Christian who was so grateful to His God for giving him more than one chance at living his life. He came close to death a few years ago – but managed to give up smoking and keep on going.
And now my darling friend has gone. I have a feeling that if you look very carefully up at the sky tonight, you will see a HUGE smiley faced emoji. And with the smiley face a sacred message which will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You made it home at last!”
Good bye dear friend and little brother! Thanks for seeing in the dark. For caring for so many, for going the extra mile. For your exemplary gallantry, for making this life such fun. God bless, and may angels sing you to your rest.
From Mrs Libby Garnett, family friend
Good morning and thank you all for coming here to celebrate the life of John. I would also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has helped and offered love and support to John during his most difficult times. Special thanks to Doctor Tsikira, nurses and staff members at Trauma Centre Borrowdale, for managing his medical condition so well. Like John himself use to say and I quote “without my Doctor I could have died many years ago, he is a very good doctor”.
We are here to remember, acknowledge and honour the life of a remarkable person, friend, neighbour, mentor and colleague. Whilst we mourn his passing let’s celebrate his life and the joy it brought to us. May his memory be a blessing to us all.
John matriculated at Mt Pleasant High School and did further studies in Accountancy. Completed his national service and call up then went for further studies in Durban, South Africa. He later graduated at the University of South Africa with a Batchelor of Commerce degree. John joined the professional world of Accountancy with an office in town and later opted for an office at home. Besides doing professional accounting work for many companies in different industry sectors, John also believed in helping the less privileged. He helped Helen, his mother, form the Hatcliffe Women Cooperative Association to empower women and was its honorary accountant and Treasurer. John was also involved in the accounting work for Zimbabwe Association of University women for many years. An organisation that empowers women through higher education and equipping them for leadership roles. John was also a committee member, Honorary Accountant and Treasurer for Mother of Peace Community in Mtoko, a children’s home that looks after HIV infected children and orphans. Until his death he was an Executive Council member, honorary Treasurer and Accountant for the Trust an organisation that manages heritage sites in Zimbabwe.
In his prime age John loved Fishing trout at Mare Dam in Nyanga National Park. He also loved travelling to Nyanga and Vumba mountains about twice each year with his family. They would also visit Mazvikadei Dam and a visit oversees once in two years. The sport he loved and played was golf, he would travel with an old family friend around Harare to play. He was very passionate about accounting and had a large collection of accounting books.
I have had the privilege of knowing, living and working with him for 50 years and it’s very hard to imagine my life without him. He had a profound impact on me which inspired me to choose accounting as a career, a decision I don’t regret. John loved talking endlessly with anyone and making jokes. John was an amazing person, thoughtful, humble, generous, kind and never judged anyone. He believed that everyone is doing the best they could. John Leaves behind a legacy of love and wisdom.
John it’s very difficult to say goodbye but I feel privileged and grateful to the Lord for the life we shared. Thank you for everything you did to me, my family and everyone else you helped. On behalf of myself, my family and everyone here, I would like to say farewell we will all miss you dearly. You came into our lives and brightened our world, you befriended us and loved us and we love you. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal but your love has left memories no one can steal, The Hyslops’ song has ended but the melody lingers on. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
From Mr Martin Mhonda Bondo, family friend
Good afternoon everyone
I would like to thank all of you for being here to honor the life of John Hyslop, to say goodbye and to celebrate his life, with much gratitude, a life well lived for sure.
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of John. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, neighbors and work colleagues. Johns passing will be a great loss to us all.
I had the real honour of meeting John 16 years ago, back in 2009, through the NTZ and we went from work colleagues to being friends.
John was gracious to everyone and a super positive man and very humorous one too. He gave his time freely to everyone that he met in his life: to his friends, family, at work, in his community and of course in his charitable work.
John loved his country Zimbabwe and enjoyed visiting his most special place: Nyanga. He would be excited to go on holiday there every year with the rest of his family. He loved the tranquilly of the spectacular scenery there and he had many memorable trips up there in the mountains and valleys. He is now the swift, uplifting rush of birds circling in flight.
John was a kind man who was fully immersed in the community where he lived, he provided a space for people to feel welcome and safe and a sense of belonging. He would drive the children to school on most days, even on the cold winter mornings. I know that Mhonda and all his family will miss John terribly.
John was a dependable and long serving member of the Trust. He was devoted to his role of Secretary and Treasurer, his precision was next to none, he had a keen eye for detail.
He would take the time to share his knowledge and patiently explain the nuances of running committee meetings. I respected his opinions during many, many meetings over the years. His dedication was absolute and I cannot recall a meeting where he was not present over the course of many, many years.
As it is said: As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
John enriched so many people lives in countless ways and that is the legacy that he leaves behind.
John is now reunited with Helen and Charles I which I know that he will find solace in that. May he rest in eternal peace.
Sending everyone love, peace and strength to get through this very difficult time.
From Mrs Sharon Waterworth
Vice Chair of the National Trust of Zimbabwe
USE NUMBER: 0775 907 595