John Lindsay Bishop was born to Arthur Lionel Bishop and Lilian Mary Bishop (nee Norton) in Pleasant Point, Canterbury. He was the youngest of five children, and was known as Lindsay. He attended Pleasant Point Primary and High with his future wife Dorothea Beatrice Andrews (Betty).
He went to Canada and England with the NZ Air Force. Family history relates that he was one of a bomber crew, but came down with mumps. His crew went up without him, and never came back.
John and Betty were married 1 March, 1947. In 1954, the family won a rehab farm in the land ballot, and the family (now including three children) moved up to Pouto on the Kaipara Harbour.
The first farming years were hard work. The land was neither cleared nor fenced, and the area was isolated. John worked long hours felling tea tree. The family grew to four children, and they attended the small local school.
After the children left home, John and Betty moved up to a farm at Aratapu, where they adopted another daughter. John served on the Dargaville council.
Eventually they moved into Dargaville proper, where John became a familiar sight on his bicycle, covering many kilometres.
John and Betty celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, then six more before John passed away in August 2003. He is buried in Redhill Cemetery, with Betty, who passed away in 2013.
Public - Donnelle - Direct descendant - 25 September 2018 - Family papers.