John served on the council of the Beresford Family Society for many years, as honorary secretary and as chairman.
On his return from national service, John was very active in the national and international scout movement. He was an air scout leader in Surbiton,
A member of the chief Scouts advance party for updating scouting and its methods in the UK. He served as counter Commissioner in London, headquarters commissioner for venture scouting,
vice chairman of the European scout committee in the 1980s and eventually chairman of the world Scout Council.
He was also a vice president of the scout Association.