Geoffrey John Wright (2 Nov 1931 - 11 Jun 2020)

We are sad to announce the death of Geoffrey John Wright who passed away peacefully at the age of 88 at home in Southampton on 11th June 2020, after a short illness.

Geoff was born on the 2nd November 1931 to Elwyn and Edith (maiden name Liddington) at their house, ‘Heatherdene’ in High Firs Road, Scholing. He married Hilda Amelia Smith on 16th September 1953 at St James Road church in Southampton. Two children followed, Philip John, 24th January 1960 and Michael Geoffrey, 8th September 1964. He was a grandparent to four grandchildren, Charles and Trelawney (Philip and Rosalind) and Katie and William (Michael and Valerie).

Geoff spent his early life in Southampton starting at ‘Central School’ as an infant and finally Court College at the age of 16 in 1947, leaving with a Junior Certificate from the ‘College of Preceptors’ in English language and Literature, History, Geography, Geometry, Mensuration, Light and Heat, and Arithmetic and Algebra (with distinction). During the war he, brother Leslie and Edith, evacuated for a period to Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire, where they stayed with ‘Auntie Nellie’.

A short while after leaving College he began his career ‘at sea’ with the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd., as a cadet, subsequently going on to work for the Union Castle Line. He was a keen ‘student’ and gained qualifications to become a first mate and became an extra second officer on the Warwick Castle, where he finished his career at sea in December 1957, in order to spend more time with Hilda. During his seafaring career he was fortunate to visit many places around the whole world and developed an interest in travel which he loved to share with Hilda and subsequently with Michael who visited many of the same countries whilst working for Twinings.

In January 1958 he began working for Brown and Harrisons Dairies at Hill Lane, which after mergers and takeovers eventually became Unigate. Starting at the bottom, learning all aspects of the trade, over many years he rose to become a very respected Area Manager for Wessex. There was the need to relocate on several occasions and Geoff and Hilda lived on the outskirts of London, in Cranleigh, near Winchester at the much loved ‘Combe Folly’ and in Somerset. After retirement at the age of 57, in 1989 they moved back to Southampton where they happily remained in Bassett until the present day.

Geoff had a lifelong interest in ‘transport’, whether it was his bicycles or motorbikes as a young man, the ships he served on whilst at sea or the seemingly large number of motor cars that he had during his life. Many of our family memories relate to his cars and the immaculate condition he kept them in. Geoff and Hilda are true Southampton people and Geoff was particularly interested in, and looked into, the family tree and family history in the Southampton area. He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s achievements and loved to talk to his close friends about this.
Geoff is survived by Hilda. They remained very happily married until the end. He will be sorely missed by her, his family, his ex-work colleagues who he kept in touch with, and friends and neighbours who have all told us of their respect for him and in many cases how he has helped them over the years.

The funeral service will take place on Friday 26th June at 10.45 am at Southampton Crematorium. Due to coronavirus restrictions only close family and friends can attend. We ask for no flowers, but if people wish to contribute to the Cancer Research Campaign in lieu of flowers we would be grateful.

Dr Philip J. Wright, 17th June 2020.