The day has arrived...

Today is the day of my grandfather's funeral. He died a couple of weeks ago, following a lengthy illness which effectively robbed him of all his abilities. It started off with a stroke and then worsened with him having continual mini-strokes. It ended up at the point where he did nothing but sleep. He spent his latter year at St Josephs nursing home in Stafford. What an amazing place! The staff could not do enough for him and if anyone is reading this as they've been searching for nursing home Stafford, trust me, you cannot get better.

He's being cremated in the West chapel at Bushbury. Hopefully all will go well. I'm doing a reading which I've reproduced below. He was an amazing man, full of life and a fighter right through to the end. My enduring memory of him now is of him continually trying to stand up and walk despite him being told repeatedly time and time again that it was not possible. He never gave in...what a spirit...

RIP

Grandad

My Grandad had a very special and interesting life. Of course, he’s my Grandad and to me, he’s always going to be special so I wanted to share with you part of an article written by The Black Country Bugle some years ago:

“George showed the attributes of a natural athlete, willing to strive to the limits of his powers both on the football field and in the boxing ring. As a member of Kynock Amateur Boxing Club it didn’t take George long to absorb the rudiments of the game and, with his natural strength and pugnacity, quickly establish himself as a formidable performer in the ring. Always the first to attack, he gained many victories until a broken hand put paid to his amateur boxing career.

George then resumed an earlier footballing career, signing amateur forms for West Bromwich Albion. Unfortunately the commencement of the Second World War put paid to his ambitions in that direction. He joined the Royal Marines where implicit confidence in himself, allied to boundless energy stood him in good stead. He was quickly made up to Corporal and then to Sergeant - Physical Training Instructor. He took up boxing once again, representing the Combined Services at Draganza in Bombay, however in 1942 he was seconded to Barmouth, North Wales as a Sergeant Instructor on the Royal Marines Commando Assault course. Many well-known sportsmen passed through his hands, including Trevor Bailey (England cricketer), Willie Watson, (England footballer and cricketer), Tommy Caper (Manchester United), Reg Cumner (Arsenal & Wales), Sep Rutherford and Alex Jackson. Trevor Bailey once said of George, and I quote “He is the hardest man I ever met…” An opinion you have to respect from a brilliant and uncompromising sportsman who went on to play at Wembley in front of a crowd of 98,000.

After the war and upon returning to Civvy Street, George, then 26, had a few bouts with Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club. He met up with Alf Taylor who had served under him as a Corporal PTI during their Service Days. Alf persuaded him to sign up as a professional with his manager, Pete Ray, which led to George training with such well-known fighters as George Roe, Derrick Alexander, Ron Price, Sam Caddick and “Nipper” Price. His start in the professional ranks began in explosive style when he stepped in as a last minute substitute for Ron Price at Gosta Green stadium against Dick Johnson. George knocked Dick out in the first round to pave his way for a short but successful career in the paid ranks. Among those he beat were Bob Marlow, Joe Meredith, Billy Hill, Tommy Price, Tommy Daly, Ginger Ward and Herbie Smith. It is of interest to quote from the contents of a letter written to George by his manager following the latter fight…”After your win over Smith, you can be sure of regular first-class engagements. Unfortunately I am not having any luck regarding you challenging Hal Bagwell. It appears he’s only 9st 5lbs and won’t take anyone over 9st 9lbs”…Hal Bagwell being, according to a much disputed entry in the Guinness Book of Records, holder of the world record of 183 contests without defeat between August 1938 and November 1949.

George’s career continued but the financial rewards were never great – his biggest purse was £25. He also developed weight problems with a local hospital specialist advising him to retire from the game. George was a natural 10 stoner and having to constantly get down to the 9st 7lbs weight limit upset his metabolism, and resulted in carbuncles appearing all over his body. He had always enjoyed the benefits of a good job outside the ring - working as a furnaceman, but due to a shortage of orders, got laid off. However that only inspired him to form his own company, a scrap metal concern, and take on his fist employee, Neil Buckland who remains with him to this day. Of the early business days, George said…”The small foundries would pay us more money for the old cylinder iron if we supplied it broken up into small pieces, so alongside Neil, I worked all day in the yard swinging a 28lb sledge-hammer breaking up the cast and then drove a lorry through the night down to South Wales to bring back coke for the foundries…” Nowadays he employs eight men – crane and lorry drivers, burners and shearers.

Well past retirement age, George spurns a life of leisure and continues to work as hard as ever. He hates having time on his hands, but does enjoy a round of golf at Oxley Golf Club and is a keen dancer where I am told his footwork is still nifty.

Of course I’d do it all again, was his response to the inevitable question…..”I bloody well loved it…”

My “Grandad George” – Simply The Best