“John had been battling cancer for a few years and, anyone who knows John, will know how hard he fought,” his wife Julia said. “With such a serious condition, there were ups and down along the way but his condition deteriorated last week. He wanted to be at home and I cared for him here.
“It was his wish that we married last week,” she added. “It was a special moment for both of us and in many ways the current lockdown situation helped us be together. He was due to become a grandad in July - his eldest daughter Faye is pregnant - and so wanted to be here for his granddaughter.
“John just loved the dogs. He had a fantastic understanding of breeding and I learned so much from him. All through his illness, the dogs were his and our priority - and that was the same to the end,” added Julia McGee.
The son of John ‘Ginger’ McGee, John jnr paraded Hit The Lid before the 1988 Daily Mirror/Sporting Life Greyhound Derby at Wimbledon, a Derby considered to be one of the greatest in the history of the sport’s premier Classic.
John McGee snr said: “Junior had been poorly for some time and we feared the news would come. We are all nevertheless devastated.”
Of the pair's Derby success with the Fred Smith-owned Hit The Lid, McGee snr added: “Hit The Lid idolised junior, so we agreed he’d parade Hit The Lid. I had our other finalist Gino. The rest is history. They were great days.”
Ian Walton, general manager at Newcastle, said: “On behalf of the staff and patrons at Newcastle greyhound stadium our condolences are with the family of John McGee jnr.
“John was a trainer at Newcastle for the last few years, with his wife Julia as part of the team. He was a respected trainer, very good with a dog and loved his greyhounds. Our thoughts with all the family at this time.”
Barry Silkman, former greyhound trainer-turned football agent, said: “John jnr worked for me for a while and they were good times.
“We had a lot of laughs and a lot of winners and I remember so clearly him saying I thought my dad walked dogs a long way, but you’re worse! At least I’ll get really fit - if only I could play football. We laughed for so long. I’m gutted.”
John McGee junior leaves wife Julia and daughters Faye, Jade and Jo.
