After 30 years, what’s still in the founding DNA of The Postcode People? A huge part of the answer is the influence of John Dolman, who sadly passed away from a major heart attack at his home in Canada on 24th July 2025.
John was there at the beginning when AFD conceived and launched its first Postcode products and was also once an AFD Director. We are extremely sad to have lost him; however, we are also incredibly grateful to have known him, and we can recall many happy stories. These show who John was and how his faith, creativity, energy, action and skills have helped to shape what AFD is today.
John was the son of a miner, who sadly died when John was just 15. Three years later John became a Christian and worked as a Christian Evangelist, Worship Leader and Musician. He wrote songs, ran a music shop and toured. In 1991 John brought this faith, creativity, energy and action into the foundational years of AFD Software.
On the job at AFD, which mainly served the charity sector in those days, with sheer hard work and a great sense of humour John mastered IT networks, system building and training. During the AFD transition to become “The Postcode People”, John made sure that in 1994 AFD Postcode lookup was the first on CompuServe (a precursor to the Internet) – then a few years later the only place on the Internet you could get Postcode lookup!
The AFD team always dive in to understand and respond to support requests with speed, knowledge, openness to learn – and a solution focus. That approach is part of John Dolman’s “can-do, will-do, done” DNA living on.
When John’s creative energy was applied to marketing it was full-on! He put AFD on the map, organising and attending over 20 conferences and exhibitions in just 18 months! He engaged late nights on technical forums – making sure developers knew we were there for them – and driving our understanding of what they needed and wanted. Nothing was done by halves.
John had time for other passions. While working at AFD, he continued with local church leadership and a strong call to serve the hidden church in China. Although John was a risk-taker this was not with a “cavalier” attitude. It was with awareness, wisdom, insight and taking full responsibility – and it moved things forward.
John became a Director at AFD in 2003 when MD David Dorricott’s first wife Ann passed away, briefly taking the helm and giving David essential practical support during a time of crisis.
John described himself as a right-hand man, activist, energiser, doer, and completer. We agree whole-heartedly.
Beyond John’s passion for China were music and family. In 2004 he and his wife Chris moved to Canada to be close to elderly relatives. After moving he continued to serve the church and China and stayed close to AFD, regularly visiting our Isle of Man HQ to stay in touch with the business, and with his friends at AFD.
In October 2021 John was diagnosed with incurable cancer and wasn’t expected to survive for more than a few months. Many prayed for a miracle and that is the word his consultant used to describe his healing which gave John, his family – and us – an extra 3 years – and John died Cancer-free.
The impact of John’s life isn’t over – it’s still influencing countless people across the globe – including you – our customers. We are thankful for his years of service and friendship; sad he is gone from us for now, and grateful for his example of faith in Christ and assurance of eternal life.
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