War Cry seller, 91, hangs up his collecting tin

A familiar sight has disappeared from Cambridge city centre after a man who has sold Salvation Army magazine War Cry for nearly 30 years completed his final shift. 

Whatever the weather, Major John Mott has sold the popular publication in the same place since 1998 and, aged 91, has decided to call it a day. 

John, who led The Salvation Army in Southend until 1998 and held a variety of other appointments throughout his ministry, admitted he will miss his three days a week outside Marks and Spencer on Sidney Street. At Christmas, he was at his post five days a week and, in 2023, raised a remarkable £17,000. The money was used to support the work of The Salvation Army in the city and helped provide toys and gifts to 589 young people and 271 food parcels to individuals and families over the festive period. 

John said: “This is something I am doing very reluctantly and it’s only because my general health is deteriorating because of my age. I thought to myself winter’s coming, last winter was quite hard and I shouldn’t do that again.” 

As well as raising vital funds for the church and charity, John has made hundreds of friends and said he treasures interacting with regulars and visitors to the city. 

He explained: “I stand on the shoulders of Salvation Army people from all over the world. I’ve heard so many stories including from someone who found their brother in Australia with the help of The Salvation Army and somebody else who was helped to find a job by The Salvation Army when they came out of prison.  

“I’ve conducted funerals of people I have met here. I’ve met the Archbishop of Canterbury here, actors and actresses who have been at the theatre and politicians have stopped to talk to me. The most important people of course are the people who donate. I find it extremely humbling. I try my best personally to support The Salvation Army but some of these people are incredibly generous.” 

John has been selling The War Cry in different locations across the country since 1972 and has a lot of memories. He has a message for everyone who has given to the church and charity over his tenure. 

He said: “Please carry on supporting The Salvation Army. You must think highly of the Salvation Army to have supported me all those years.” 

Major Leanne Cordner leads The Salvation Army in Cambridge with Major Martin Cordner and paid tribute to John. 

She said: “He’s become the face of The Salvation Army in the city centre and has built up a ministry among the people here. He’s been a great fundraiser for us and while we appreciate the money, we appreciate more the ministry, the spreading of the good news, the praying with people he has been able to do and the relationships he has built up. He has given a huge amount of time and dedication to what he has done and he will be very hard to replace.”