Mr. Sykes joined the staff at Carey at the beginning of 1952, his first professional appointment as a schoolmaster. In the previous year, in his Diploma of Education course, he had come in a practice teaching round, and his obvious penchant for pedagogy led Mr. S. L. Hickman to offer him a teaching appointment. He brought with him an honours degree in Arts, and a wealth of experience from some years in a Municipal office and from five years' war service, mainly piloting heavy bombers over Germany and in the Middle East. He also brought with him a rare ability to communicate, and so began a career which was to span more than thirty years, distinguished in parts by brilliance.

He took the Modern History class, and in 1953 — only Schu's second year of teaching — Wilbur Sanders brought credit to himself and his teacher by winning the Exhibition in that subject. But it was in the English department that (John's) work was most significant: he became responsible for English at Carey in 1957, and he examined externally in Intermediate English,  Leaving Certificate English and later H.S.C. English Literature. One University professor commented that John's intelligent insight ensured a fair and legal examination paper in English which drew none of the dramatic attacks seen frequently in Press reports of external exams.

In his English classes, things were never dull. One of the best stories John tells against himself goes thus:

Sykes (voice slightly raised): "Peter, you only listen to half of what I say!"

Peter: "Sir, only half of what you say is worth listening to!"

A former student recalls that Mr. Sykes rebuked a class with these words: 

"That is crass. I expect a superior kind of buffoonery from my classes!"

Mr. Sykes always impressed in teaching with his certainty of presentation (some might call it pedantry and dogmatism), thorough preparation, meticulous correction, and a rigorous demand for precision. The subjunctive mood was safe while he was teaching, and the triumph of the split infinitive was, at best, unlikely.

Fowler's Modern English and Nesfield's Grammar were important catechisms. He produced a consistently high record of external results in both Expression and Literature, and his handling of the magic of the poetry of Robbie Burns was a joy to those who experienced it.

In recent years turning his skill to remedy the difficulties of those struggling with expression, he avers that one of the rewarding features of this work is the light in student eyes when understanding breaks through.

John Sykes will always be remembered at Carey for his contribution to cricket. On arrival, he took over the First Eleven, which benefited from his background as an all-rounder with Ormond College Eleven and the University Seconds district team. He communicated his knowledge of skills and tactics superbly, knowing well how to bring out the best in a player, encouraging those who tried and showed promise, and deploring sloppiness. One colleague commented, "The amazing thing is not that John turns out the occasional good team, but that he never turns out a bad one!"

On Monday night at practice, after the weekend match, the little black book was produced and he carefully analysed success and failure. From his critical survey grew a buoyantly enthusiastic team, and two premierships — one in the Associated Grammar Schools, and the other our first Associated Public Schools' success — proved his coaching skill.

His ex-players honoured him by inviting him to become the first coach of the revived Old Boys' cricket club, and there followed two further premierships.

Mr. Sykes never lost sight of his Christian commitment and became one of the best occasional preachers the school has known. His 1977 Leavers' address will not be forgotten. He chose as his theme the roads we may travel, challenging us to reflect on the road of conversion, traced by Paul on his way to Damascus, the road of concern and compassion, traversed by the Good Samaritan on his way to Jericho, and the Via Dolorosa, the way Christ journeyed to the Cross for our redemption. John's commitment showed in his work as a counsellor and confidant to students, his activities as a Justice of the Peace and a civil marriage celebrant, his service as deputy-chairman of the Victorian government's board of censors and as Independent Schools' representative on the Ex-servicemen's Children's Education Board. In all his dealings with young people, he was compassionate and generous.

From 1966, he was Headmaster of Scotch College, Launceston, serving with distinction for five and a half years. He returned to Carey to teach Senior English, coach cricket, preside over Newnham House (he had in the past been Housemaster of Tranter) and become official starter at athletics.

Source: Carey Chronicle, 1983.