The FRV project begun in 1981-82 as a joint-venture by the private firm Kew Engineering of Gwelo (now Gweru) and the newly created Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) to meet a requirement from the Zimbabwe Government for a home-grown light armoured vehicle intended to the export market.
After a period as a GP in Salisbury (Harare), John became Senior Medical Officer in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, and the family moved to Gwelo (Gweru).
Thornhill High School opened on the air force base in Gwelo, Rhodesia (now Gweru, Zimbabwe) in January 1955.