Vale: Aussie broadcaster John ‘Hoody’ Hood

Staff Writer
John receiving his award at the Stars of Suffolk Awards ceremony with then Chairman of Suffolk County Council, Colin Spence with wife, Jeanette.

It’s been a distressing few weeks watching the coronavirus pandemic take its toll on communities here in Australia and around the world.

Heartbreakingly, the radio industry has not been immune to the unfolding tragedy with the death of the incomparable John Hood, 66, in the United Kingdom.

The former 3XY and EON FM broadcaster was hospitalized with COVID-19 on March 20 before passing away just four days later.

Hoody also worked at KAFM, K rock and Bay FM before making the move to the UK in 2004, where he worked at BBC Radio Suffolk.

After leaving The Beeb, John took up a role with Suffolk Constabulary as a community support officer. He earned a Stars of Suffolk Award in 2016 after rescuing four teenage girls, pulling ashore their raft that had begun to drift out to sea.

His ex-partner Jayne Lindill told the BBC he was “quite a guy” and that his family and friends were “heartbroken” by his death.

Hoody’s former radio colleagues in Australia have also been devastated by his death.

Vale John Hood. A good guy and a great broadcaster.

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Jason Sole
1 Apr 2020 - 1:06 pm

I was privileged to know John for a short time in the changeover from KAFM to 5MMM. He was one of those guys that you couldn’t help but admire; indeed the reason why young blokes like me at the time got into radio. Nothing but fond memories of a quality man who sounded great on the radio. RIP Legend.

Chris Prouse
1 Apr 2020 - 2:46 pm

Is this the same John Hood who worked at Radio Windy, Wellington and then moved to Radio Hauraki, Auckland when Barry Jenkins was sacked in late 1979?
Another ‘Good Guy’ – sad

Ron Heaps
1 Apr 2020 - 2:50 pm

Had the pleasure of working with Hoody many years ago in Dunedin NZ, damn fine dude great sense of humour. Vale.

Mike Dee
1 Apr 2020 - 3:50 pm

Yes he was at 2ZM for a while in around 76 and 77 and we all had some wild nights at the 1860! Also hosted Grunt Machine at this time. I have photos of us doing OBs together at 2ZM

Nigel Benson
1 Apr 2020 - 4:18 pm

Devastated by this news.
Hoody became a very good friend, when we worked together at K-Rock and BayFM, in Geelong.
We’d always catch up whenever he came back to Dunedin, to visit his Mum.
The loveliest bloke I ever met in radio.
A very kind, generous and genuine man.
Vale, Hoody.
You made the world a better place.
See you on the other side.

Rob McKay
1 Apr 2020 - 7:31 pm

Chris Prouse – I am confused on this one. I felt it was not the same person, although a lot of NZ SM comments link him to the Radio Windy jock.
John did late night for us 78/79. When I was organising our 40th reunion last year we tracked him down in Northland – I think there are two Hoods – I have searched Google and all the Aust & UK eulogies make no reference to a career in NZ?????

Steve
2 Apr 2020 - 11:35 am

This is indeed the same John Hood who had a long and successful career in NZ before coming to Australia.

Foxy
2 Apr 2020 - 2:40 pm

Very sad to read this.John Hood was a legend and a great bloke.First met John at Eon when I did work experience.He had long blonde hair and looked like Robert Plant.I then had the pleasure of working with him at both 3XY & KRock.I salute you John Hood.RIP

Clive Hodson
3 Apr 2020 - 11:07 am

Saddened to hear of the passing of Hoody who I had the pleasure of working with on a co-lab project between 96fm in Perth WA and PolyGram Records in 1981. Together we put a great little WA artists album called West which was produced out of Planet Studio (Graham Owens). He also rang me up when I was at the ABC and told me he was moving to the UK and on cleaning up he discovered a bunch of multitracks from the ABC TV program GTK. He sent them to me and I passed on to JJJ. Great guy and passionate music man. Vale John Hood.

Con Ratten
10 Apr 2020 - 4:34 am

I went to school ( bayfield ) with John, played cricket, basketball with him,he would give anything a go, glad to call him a friend.

9 bayfield

0

Con Ratten
11 Apr 2020 - 5:30 am

John and i were in the same class at school ( bayfield ), played in cricket and basketball teams.John would give anything a go,glad to call you a friend.

Rebecca
4 May 2020 - 12:08 am

I am his daughter and I live for the few memories we shared, I cried a river today realising my dad has passed away in UK and here are we sitting in NZ devestated tbh

natalee fuhrmann
16 Jul 2020 - 6:10 pm

John was one of the loveliest men in radio. We laughed and we hung out a lot during his stint at 96FM in Perth. Think I’ve still got some cassettes from his Sunday night shifts. To Rebecca, his daughter, please reach out on FB if you want to fill in any blanks from his time in the west. Am truly sorry for your loss. Loved John.

Stu Houchen
28 Jun 2021 - 10:48 am

I knew Hoody in the early seventies along with Kim Adamson and others when they worked at Radio Waikato in Hamilton NZ. A good bloke. Haven’t seen him since then but fond memories of those times. Very sad to hear of his passing.
Go well John “The Hoody”.

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