John Graham [Gordon Hawtin]

IF you walked into the King William IV pub and headed to the back of the bar, you would more than often find a man propped in the corner, lit by lamp, reading a newspaper and sipping a pint of Directors ale.

John Graham, who friends have said was a “part of the furniture” of the KW4 pub, has passed away aged 78 following a long-term illness.

Born in 1947 in Ealing, Mr Graham had lived in Hampstead for decades, most recently in Munro House sheltered housing in Fitzjohn’s Avenue.

A former publican, he ran the Blue Anchor pub in Portsmouth for about 10 years until soaring rent forced him out.

Moving to London, he found a job as an administrator at the Royal Free Hospital and volunteered at the Ian Charleson Day Centre supporting people with HIV.

An active LGBT rights campaigner, much of his later life was spent fundraising at the King William IV pub.

“He must have raised thousands and thousands of pounds over the years for many charities at the King William,” said close friend Guy Phillips, who first met him at the bar over 20 years ago.

“When I was going through some of his photographs I found one where he was 20 and he was ice skating in the Queen’s Tea Room in Bayswater. It’s the most amazing picture – another ode to John’s checquered life.”

Mr Graham’s favourite pub [Adam Bruderer]

Pub regular Ken Pyne said: “He used to live there at the pub – everyone said it, and he used to say it was his home. He was always a very friendly bloke and used to say hello to anyone that came in.”

Andy Watts added: “He was very enthusiastic about everything – the pub was his life and he was a part of its fabric.”

Mr Graham also helped start the lively Thursday piano singalongs at the pub. Luke Meredith said: “John brought Jimmy McGrath down to the Coach and Horses in Soho where I was doing singalongs. Immediately, Jimmy said he wanted me up in Hampstead and that they’d get a piano in. I’ve been doing regular Thursdays since then.

“John was always good humour, he never complained, and I know he was in some pain at points but he never let on.”

Former New Journal reporter Harry Taylor, who met Mr Graham through his coverage of the King William IV pub, said: “John was part of the furniture in the King William IV. He was always happy to have a chat, usually knew a few titbits about the pubs in Hampstead, and was a perfect example of what makes a great pub very special indeed.”

Mr Graham also served as pubwatch correspondent for the Hampstead Village Voice, filling its back page with Hampstead pub news for 16 years.

“He was so enthusiastic and keen about the job,” said editor of the Hampstead Village Voice, Sebastian Wocker.

In Mr Graham’s honour, a fundraising night will be held on November 29 in the King William IV pub for the National Aids Trust.

Mr Wocker said: “His last words to one of the regulars at the King William were, ‘Please make sure the event goes ahead even if I don’t make it’.”

Mr Taylor added: “He did some great work fundraising for Aids charities, so it’s apt that there will be another event in November to raise money.”