John Ellis

John Ellis was a citizen of the United Kingdom from 1953 who accidentally, with Diane Holmes and Emma-Louise Cowell, came through the Cardiff rift, travelling more than fifty years into the future.

He was a fireman during World War II but worked in retail in 1953. He watched the 1953 FA Cup final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers with his son Alan, and they watched Blackpool win the cup.

He was supposed to finalise a deal in Dublin on 19 December, the day after he disappeared.

After arriving, John saw his by then elderly son Alan, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and failed to recognise him. Alan had married a woman named Sally but they had no children. John saw no purpose in his life now that his family was gone.

He tried to commit suicide but Jack Harkness stopped him. After explaining himself, Jack decided to let him kill himself. He did so by carbon monoxide poisoning, sitting alongside Jack and holding his hand till his last breath (TV: Out of Time)

Torchwood website
The series 1 version of the Torchwood website contained a number of documents and articles pertaining to John Ellis.

Firemen Save St Mary's Hotel
A newspaper article titled "Firemen Save St Mary's Hotel" stated that John Ellis and fellow Emergency Fire Serviceman Howard Owen had successfully tackled a blaze at St Mary's Hotel. Ellis stated "It was a case of being in the right place at the right time".

Tragic Christmas for Ellis Family
A newspaper article titled "Tragic Christmas for Ellis Family" stated that Ellis' family were in mourning after the search for him was called off. The paper referred to Ellis as a "local businessman" from Grangetown. He had been on a trip to Dublin to discuss opening a new branch of Ellis' General Store when his flight from Bristol was lost over the Irish Sea. He left a wife, Alice, 37, and a son, Alan, 16. Despite Alice requesting that Ellis' store be closed, manager Albert Perkins, 32, informed the paper that they were "keeping it running for Mrs Ellis".

Ellis' General Store
A history of Ellis' store states that John Ellis founded Ellis' General Store in 1948. The store was both a general store and department store located on Mill Lane. Plans were in place for branches in both Dublin and Bristol, before management was taken over by Albert Perkins in 1954. In 1963, the store moved premises to Castle Street, where the expanded range now included haberdashery and evening suit hire. In 1965, a music department and coffee bar opened up. In 1970, the store expanded into the shop next door. In 1973, Ellis' sponsored the Christmas lights. The store celebrated its 30th anniversary in 1978. However, in 1986, Albert Perkins retired and the store was sold off for redevelopment as luxury flats.