The passing of John William Carroll has saddened a number of regular Tesco Extra visitors who remember him as an 'always smiling' member of staff.
His friends and family have also paid tribute to the 62-year-old who passed away today (August 10) after battling with life-threatening injuries following an assault outside Tesco Extra on River Way in Andover on July 29.
Paying tribute in the Advertiser's Book of Condolences, Shaun Ryan wrote: "Going to miss seeing you on my visits to Tesco. Was an absolute pleasure working with you from 2008 to 2017.
"You were always happy and smiling away even when you were having a rubbish day. Up the Toffees. You will be missed. RIP."
Susan Shepard wrote: "Rest in peace John. Thoughts are with your friends and family.
"Your life was so, so sadly taken doing the job you were proud of. No sense can be made of this awful tragedy. Your face and presence will be missed."
Another Andover resident, Nick Matthews wrote: "I have often chatted with John in Tesco car park, he was always friendly and chatty.
"I was sickened to the core when I heard of the assault. That such a man, conducting an honest day's work could be attacked needlessly and brutally is an abhorrent act.
"John’s death has left me numb, devastated, and angry. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends, and may the full weight of the law fall on those responsible."
Anne Huggins, who shares the same birthday as John, wrote: "Dearest John, I'm so sad to hear what happened to you, you didn't deserve any of that, you were a very inspirational person.
"I shall miss our wee chats from time to time, I don't have a birthday sharer now but you will always be in my thoughts, sending Paula and your family my condolences, RIP John."
Community answers
Pay tribute to John William Carroll
"The Advertiser has opened this online book of condolence to bring together tributes for John William Carroll."
We asked for your responses - this is what you sent.
Leave your tribute hereA nice bloke sadly missed his former pool team mates
Leave your tribute hereDear John. So sad and devastated that you are gone and this disgusting thing happened to you. I remember when I first came to Enham and came to work where you used to. You befriended me and we became good friends and you had a good sense of humour and always made me laugh. Rest in piece, dear John. Condolences to your wife Paula and your family xxxx
Leave your tribute hereMy father has told me how he was belped on many occasions by John. This is dreadful news. So sorry for your loss.
Leave your tribute hereI spoke to John on lots of occasions in tesco he was such a polite and friendly man nothing was to much trouble. May you r.i.p now .my thoughts go out to your family. Let's hope the scum that did this get caught and given a severe punishment.
Leave your tribute hereSo very sorry for your loss how can people be so cruel my thoughts are with the family at this sad time
Leave your tribute hereI am so sorry, John. My thoughts are with you and your family. I won't ever forget our last conversation, just a few weeks ago. Rest in peace.
Leave your tribute hereDidn't know John personally but had many a chat with him while he was collecting the trolleys. Lovely man. So sad.
Leave your tribute hereI'm so sorry this happened to such a nice person such a shame , r.i.p John
Leave your tribute hereSo many memories of you John, you’ll never be forgotten. You are a part of my story and I yours. I’m so grateful to of known you, thank you for always being so kind to me and my girls. May you Rest In Peace. All my love xx
Leave your tribute hereSadly missed,never forgotten. RIP John.
Leave your tribute hereI worked at tesco for over a year not once did I see John in a bad mood or moan about his job, he enjoyed his life and his work and never complained, he was always so happy and wanted to chat to everyone he was quirky with his own sense of humour. I am sad to hear this and send all my love to his family at this extremely sad time, I hope tesco appreciated his service to them and do something special for him too. Rip John x
Leave your tribute hereJohn and I worked together at Tesco. He was a very lovely and chatty fella. Rest in peace John. I’m so sorry
Leave your tribute hereI am very shocked to hear this tragic news. John was always such a lovely friendly helpful guy full of smiles. He used to brighten my day and everyone else's. God bless and rest in peace . You will be greatly missedx
Leave your tribute hereMy heart goes out to Johns family and friends. To his work colleagues at Tesco where he has worked for a number of years. A familiar face around the supermarkets entrances and car park working hard and conscientiously. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of someone who was unassuming and he shall be missed around the Suoermarket where many hundreds of people would of seen him working. God bless you and may you find peace and courage through this difficult time. ♥️🙏🏻
Leave your tribute hereA lovely gentle man who always had time to ask how things were going and share his latest “joke” ..he loved his family and his partner dearly and i will miss seeing him it was a pleasure to know you John my heart go’s out to Paula and family
Leave your tribute hereTaken to soon,absolutely heartbroken we always miss you,great colleague to work with,rest in peace my dear friend x
Leave your tribute hereA senseless attack on a man who was sunshine on a rainy day. From his time working in Boots to his time at Tesco, I have never seen John other than smiling and helpful. We are horrified that this should have happen. Senseless. Just senseless. R.I.P. My heart goes out to his family
Leave your tribute hereSincerest condolences
Leave your tribute hereRest in Peace John. So Sad to Have a Life Taken Far to Soon. My Deepest Condolences To Family and Friends at This Sad Time. 🙏
Leave your tribute hereOur thoughts and love go out to all of John's family he was such a lovely person and will truly be missed. Love Sandra and Joey. Xx
Leave your tribute hereMiss chatting to you john most mornings about the weather and football and your Electric Bike! RIP :-(
Leave your tribute hereMy husband & i know john personally very well....shared many a family get together.....have laughs & chats ...john...paula & all the family are one of the loveliset familys you will ever meet..........FLY HIGH JOHN.........X X
Leave your tribute hereJohn it was a pleasure to have known you, keep telling them jokes, sending love to family, friends and colleagues xx
Leave your tribute hereSoo sad that this man has gone to work and never coming home! Thoughts are with all those that knew him…
Leave your tribute hereGod rest your gentle soul in peace. Sincere condolences to John's family and friends
Leave your tribute hereSo sad that this has happened to you when you were just doing your job, no one deserves this ans my thoughts are with your family at this time. Rest in peace.
Leave your tribute hereSo so sad too hear this news today, John was such a lovely man when you think of Tesco extra Andover you think of John. Sending love to his family at this difficult time,John you will be missed by all. Xx
Leave your tribute hereRip John...sending my heartfelt condolences to your family and friends ❤ x
Leave your tribute hereDear John, You were such a friendly and gentle soul, I only met you on a few occasions at Tesco, but you were always smiling and more than happy to help. You helped me convince my screaming toddler to sit in the trolley on what was one of the most stressful days of my life. Many people walk on by without acknowledgment but your efforts were so needed on that day. I will never forget your kindness. I hope you are now at peace and free from suffering. Sleep tight John. x
Leave your tribute hereI remember John, I used to love getting served by him. Such courteous friendly helpful man I’m saddened and sickened by what happened to him. I can’t believe I won’t see him again. My deepest condolences to his family.
Leave your tribute hereIt is with a sad heart, I remember -from when he worked in Andover Town Centre - a kind, humble Gentleman, always polite, always thoughtful, always respectful. No words, No justice will ever be justice. RIP John
Leave your tribute hereI’m so sorry for your loss x
Leave your tribute hereI didn't know you personally but saw you smiling most times I shopped at Tesco. I hope the guilty party get treated as they deserve as this was an evil and cowardly act. Rest easy now. Condolences to your nearest and dearest.
Leave your tribute hereSo sad rip .sending my love to your family at this time....
Leave your tribute hereA kind and gentle man, always very friendly and helpful. Sincere condolences to John's family. RIP John.
Leave your tribute hereSo sorry for your loss. He was a wonderfully friendly man.
Leave your tribute hereThis was an absolutely tragic event just doing your job ,so very sorry to your family and friends truly hope justice is served ,RIP x
Leave your tribute hereSo sorry you lost your life after protecting others RIP
Leave your tribute hereSo sorry to hear this news. Nobody should go to work and not go home again. Love to all your family.
Leave your tribute hereNo one deserves to loose their life I hope the people who did this get the right punishment. I never knew you but my thoughts are with your family may you rest in peace.
Leave your tribute hereYou will always be remembered John as one of the characters at Tesco... I seen you on most of my visits doing my job, and you always had a bit of banter for me... My thoughts to John's wife, and family and of course his colleagues at this sad time...R.I.P.
Leave your tribute hereSo sorry for your family & friends at your loss. You didn't deserve this God bless your soul. May your perpetrators be punished accordingly. I know it won't bring you back, but your family deserve closure. RIP🙏💔🌈
Leave your tribute hereYou didn’t deserve this! I will miss seeing you in Tesco’s car park collecting trolleys X
Leave your tribute hereA wonderful soul taken too soon, RIP John, you will be missed by all who knew you, sympathies to you family and loved ones at this very sad time x
Leave your tribute hereI remember this Man from Tescos on several visits. He was the salt of the earth, a lovely Man that liked to help people. He was always cheerful and friendly. It is very sad to learn his life has ended. Tesco's have lost a huge asset.
Leave your tribute hereTo john family I use to see john when I went to tesco pleasant man always polite wouldn’t say boo to a goose so sorry for your loss hope the man who done this gets life for what he has done
Leave your tribute hereSo very very sad and such a senseless act. My heart goes out to your family and friends. RIP John, may you have the justice you deserve. Xx
Leave your tribute hereFrom one scoucer to another will miss your banter and sense of humour, this makes no sense what so ever RIP John from a red to blue
Leave your tribute hereSincere condolences to John’s family such tragic circumstances xx
Leave your tribute hereSo sad.What is the World coming to.I knew John as I worked at Tesco.
Leave your tribute hereGod bless you John u will be Sopley missed. Rest in peace Gone but never forgotten 💔 From Julie & family xx
Leave your tribute hereDearest John, I'm so sad to hear what happened to you, you didn't deserve any of that, your were a very inspirational person, I shall miss our wee chats from time to time, I don't have a birthday sharer now but you will always in my thoughts, sending Paula and your family my condolences, RIP John x
Leave your tribute hereI have often chatted with John in Tesco car park, he was always friendly and chatty. I was sickened to the core when I heard of the assault. That such a man, conducting an honest days work could be attacked needlessly and brutally is an abhorrent act. John’s death has left me numb, devastated and angry. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends, and may the full weight of the law fall on those responsible.
Leave your tribute hereI'm so sorry for John's families loss. Not to mention the communities loss, rest in peace :(
Leave your tribute hereA lovely friendly man, taken too soon. RIP John.
Leave your tribute hereJohn always had a laugh with us and a smile.R.I.P. we will miss you. Love Pat and Andy Mccombie
Leave your tribute hereGod bless, our thoughts are with your family and friends at this sad time. R.I.P. X
Leave your tribute hereRest in peace John. Thoughts are with your friends and family. Your life was so, so sadly taken doing the job you were proud of. No sense can be made of this awful tragedy. Your face and presence will be missed.
Leave your tribute hereGoing to miss seeing you on my visits to tesco. Was an absolute pleasure working with you from 2008 to 2017. You were always happy and smiling away even when you were having a rubbish day. Up the toffees. You will be missed. RIP
Leave your tribute hereI didn't know him personally, but he was a very nice man whenever I saw him round Tesco.
Leave your tribute hereSo sorry to hear this sad news. Thoughts are with johns family and his colleagues at Tesco's
Leave your tribute hereSo so sad always had a smile and couldn't do enough for you R.I.P John
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