Tower and Town, May 2024 (view the full edition)Geoffrey HarrisonGeoffrey was born in Grays, Essex and moved to Epson when he was 7. On leaving school he joined Midland Bank in Threadneedle Street, London before his National Service in the RAF, in Scotland. Continuing his bank career he worked in London and married Stella in 1954, moving to Byfleet where they welcomed their two sons, David the Auctioneer and Peter who served in the Royal Navy. In 1965, Geoffrey was appointed to the Sunningdale branch as manager and then in 1970 to Marlborough. He lived in the Aylesbury Arms Hotel until their house sold, when the family joined him in Marlborough. He was a founder member of Ascot Round Table and of Rotary, continuing to support them on coming to Marlborough. Supporting the local community, he happily became a trustee of St Peter's Church, treasurer of the League of Friends of Savernake Hospital and one of the founder members of The Merchant's House and Action for the River Kennet. He was made manager of the Bridge St, Swindon branch in 1975 and it was a tribute to the loyalty of bank staff that four past members of the branch attended his funeral. An enthusiastic fisherman, he delighted in the river at Poulton and would rush home from work to catch the evening rise. For many years the family went on fishing holidays in Wales, staying in a lakeside caravan. He was a loving, caring man, plagued by arthritis in his later years, which hampered his activities. He loved his garden, delighting in growing beans and tomatoes in grow bags and generally pottering. On retirement, he and Stella built a small house in Spain and for 19 years would spend the spring and autumn there, enjoying the food, warmth and company of friends. They also travelled to Australia to visit his brother Leonard who was an original "£10 pom". Sadly his elder son David passed away two weeks before him, but his family and his many friends will remember him with love and thanksgiving. Peter Harrison |