Geoffrey Robert Smith

Memories from his sister Freda

Our parents, Fred and Grace, lived in a small house in Croydon, now part of south London.

From a young age Geoff was always up to something. In a shed at the bottom of the garden he spent hours making boats. They often sunk but undeterred he would build another for the next weekend. He also made go-karts which we would race in the alleyway behind our house. Old bikes were put together and when about 10 he would cycle miles with his best friend, Colin, to an old wartime aerodrome at Biggin Hill to see the planes. He had various remote controlled planes which we flew at the disused Croydon airport.

Christmas was spent with our grandparents and Auntie Bob and Uncle George and our cousin George. They owned a garage ‘Crowley and Coles which Geoff loved to visit. After dinner we would listen to a tape recording sent from New Zealand from our Auntie Eileen, Uncle Bert and Cousin Jean. One year he exchanged a present at a swop hop, for a guitar and from then on we endured hours of strumming from his bedroom.

We moved to Wallington in Surrey, just a few miles from Croydon in 1964. We were now at secondary school. Geoff’s teacher despaired at his grades. Our father, who used to be a teacher, gave him lessons in the evening. I have inherited the coffee table he made for a woodwork project. As a venture scout he organized hikes and camping trips even in the cold winter. He loved the outdoors.

Barely 16, he left school and begun an apprenticeship with a local engineering firm. By now I had moved to London and he met my husband Richard. After Sunday lunches back at home, Richard and Geoff would go to the local park to play tennis. Rematches went on over several decades.

His second job was in Ashford, Kent to which he had to drive many miles from the flat he had bought in Croydon which he shared with friends. He bought a motor bike much to Mum’s dismay. One night after a crash, Richard had to rescue him and bring him back to our house in Sussex, to get better. ‘

Soon after, Geoff answered an advert, recruiting engineers to work in the US. He said he had to bluff his way through the interview, especially about his knowledge of computers. He left for the US on 24th February 1979 on Mum’s birthday to work for Whittaker Controls. He shared accommodation with someone who taught him about computers and got him through the trial period . He returned to the UK in 1980 to obtain the Green Card. My first son, Andrew had just had just been born and as he held him he said he wouldn’t mind one of these someday. Mum went to visit him later that year and they explored California together. She often told of a frantic drive from Lake Tahoe to catch her flight.

Our lives have gone their separate ways. Geoff married Carole and he had his own sons. Over the years we have had family holidays together in California and Florida and we attended his wedding to Linda in Las Vegas in 2006. Geoff has returned to see us many times, sometimes alone, like when he ran in the London Marathon and sometimes with his family. His last visit was Christmas 2014. His whole UK family gathered on Boxing Day, our Mum, then 86, our cousin George and his wife Caroline and their daughter Georgina with me and Richard and our two sons, Andrew and Stephen. It will be remembered by all as a very special time, especially as our Mum passed away the following October. Andrew spent his leave with his uncle in Monrovia and cousins in SLO only last month, a holiday I was unable to share which will be a lasting regret.

Geoff achieved so much during his life. I only recently told him how proud I am of him. Although we were apart in distance most of time I have never felt close to my little brother as over the last few years. We had a special bond of shared memories which I will always treasure.