Geoffrey Harding (20 Aug 1931 - 8 Apr 2016)

In loving memory of Geoffrey Walter Harding who sadly passed away on 8th April 2016.

My father was born in a local hospital in Beckenham, Kent. His father was called George Albert and his mother was called Harriet Elsie (but everyone including my mum called her Tiny, because she was!) Dad also had a younger brother called Brian. Dads family all lived at 122 Clockhouse Road, Beckenham, Kent.

During the war they all moved out to Chesham, Bucks for about 5 years and his dad, George, used to sleep at night in the underground station during the week, and came home at the weekends.

My dad went to a Secondary Modern school in Beckenham and left at an early age of around 15. He went to work as a Post Boy at the CWS (Co-operative Wholesale Society) in Leman Street, East London. Dad and Brian’s father, George, worked at CWS his whole life, working his way up to Traffic Manager and retired at 65 years of age with a 50 year’s Service Medal.

My dad joined the "Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve" (RNVR) and later did his two years National Service in the Navy based mainly at Plymouth and Portsmouth mainly onshore. At some time during this period, either before or after National Service, my dad went to night school to get his City & Guilds qualification in Heating and Ventilation Engineering.

During this period my dad met my mum, Hazel, and before long I was born followed quickly by my brother (we have about 13 months between us).

Dad left CWS and joined a succession of Heating and Engineering companies, until, in his mid 50's he was made redundant and decided to retire.

Dad had many hobbies throughout his life but his main hobbies was always golf, photography, cars, watch repairing and gadgets, and not necessarily in that order.

When dad and Brian were teenagers, and dad was practising his golf "swing" with the Driver in their back garden, apparently my Uncle got in the way on his "Back Swing" and dad nearly knocked his head off. My uncle says that he was seeing stars for a very long time and dad got into terrible trouble from their mum, but this did not stop Dad and through the years dad has been around many a golf course with his friends and my brother, but not repeating history with his back swing...

My dad had a great passion for photography; his collection of cameras seemed to outweigh his collection of watches and clocks sometimes. Where ever dad would go, that moment in time would be archived on his trusty camera. He supported charity events such as “Guide Dogs for the Blind” and sport events where without hesitation and charge, photograph the event for the benefit of others. He mastered many skills with his camera's and joined local Camera clubs of which he was a committee member and where he met and made many a new trusted friends.

During his years my dad enjoyed many a wonderful holidays with his long term partner Rosemary. Travelling to Australia, New York, Florida, Singapore, New Zealand and the list just goes on. Right up until the late part of December 2015 where he and Rosemary went on a cruise and enjoyed their last holiday together.

Our father always had a cheeky smile, a naughty wink and a wicked sense of humour right up to his last days. But what I will always carry with me in my heart is that since the day my dad was diagnosed with Cancer to the day my father passed, both me and my brother are so very, very, proud of my dad as he accepted his illness like a true gentleman, we never heard him complain of pain even on the day he passed, he never felt sorry for himself, he just got on with it and told us that "He had a good life and had never been ill or in hospital for all of his life, and that he was ready to go and was not scared of what was around the corner". Our dad was one in a million and both David and I are missing him so much, but we know that our dad has gone to a place now where he can be free of his illness, be comfortable and secure, eat as much Ice Cream as he wants (his favourite dessert) drink as much Whiskey as he wants (his favourite drink) and is looking down on us, taking care of us and taking all his wonderful pictures. WE LOVE YOU DAD, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. GOD BLESS YOU DAD.