During his military service, he was posted to Gibraltar for the first time, where he taught art and met his future wife, Lina. The couple returned to England, where Lina studied physiotherapy in Manchester and Jon graduated in social psychology at Liverpool University and where he was instrumental in setting up the first Boys' Club in the dockland area, for delinquents. After completing their studies, the couple lived for some time in Coventry, before returning to Gibraltar.[1]
On The Rock, Jon worked as a probation officer and teacher at St. Jago's School during the late 1950s. In 1966, Searle had become a journalist and rose to be editor of the national newspaper, a post he held until 1986. During this time he was also correspondent for Reuters and The Times of London, reporting on Gibraltar and the wider region.[1]
Searle maintained his love of fine arts and once retired became prolific in producing ceramics and sculptures. Notably the bronze sculpture of Molly Bloom which now stands (in fact runs) at the Alameda Gardens. This figure was commissioned in commemoration of the bicentenary of the Gibraltar Chronicle.[3] Searle exhibited his ceramics in Cornwall, Adalucia and Gibraltar. Gibraltar's Arts and Crafts Society has examples of Searle's work on permanent display.
Searle tried to improve the understanding and co-operation between journalists in Andalucía, Morocco and Gibraltar. This he achieved during the latter part of his life. After he died all three press associations held a memorial meeting in his honour, and at which one of Jon's best loved pieces, made using three different clays joined, was presented to the journalists by his children. Since then an annual scholarship for journalism is offered in his name.
