John Patterson was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 28th January 1943. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle and at boarding school in the Lake District.

After the death of his parents John continued to live at the family home in Jesmond. He developed an interest in property investment and built up a sizeable portfolio of residential properties in the Newcastle area. Later, he added several commercial properties to this portfolio.

He became a long term client of Sintons solicitors and in 2002 instructed them to form a charitable Company JGWP Limited of which he was the sole benefactor. The Objects of this Company are to fund research into and purchase equipment for the relief of Rheumatology Cancer and arthritis.

Outside these objects John was always ready to write out a cheque for any worthy and needy cause. Indeed, philanthropy ran in the family as John‘s Aunt, Mrs Robinson gave monies to fund the Newcastle University Library known to this day as the ‘Robinson Library.

John remained a bachelor and enjoyed driving sports cars and collecting fine wine. He was fond of walking holidays in Scotland.

He died on the 29th May 2005. By his Will he bequeathed his considerable estate to JGWP Limited which later changed its name to the JGW Patterson Foundation.