TRIBUTES TO GEOFFREY ENSOR.
Christopher's tribute to his father in April 2018 please click on this link
Olivers tribute to his father. April 2018 Please click on this link
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE GEOFFREY'S TRIBUTES:
Katy Short:
It was a pleasure to have known Geoffrey, he was such a lovely gentleman and tried hard during the Physiotherapy sessions that we did.
Susie Smith:
Your father was a very lovely man. I have enjoyed our friendship over the years.
Trish Holdsworth:
He will now be with your Mum and Auntie Joan, looking down on you both.
One more angel in Heaven and one more bright star in the sky.
Elizabeth Godwin:
All our memories of both your parents are good ones. Pim knew them both from childhood at Warwick Road and casualty department at Haymeads since he was a small boy. We also have a whole load of memories of happy times at both Moorswood, Gloversfield, Crown Post and much more.
Gillian Harris:
He had been nothing but kind to me and, to the very end, a very interesting and interested man.
Bobbie Taylor
As you know Charles & your Mother were at Medical School together & unlike the majority of their particular group they came to England. Charles became god father to Oliver. We went together to many cricket matches at Canterbury although your Mother was not so keen on cricket as we were. Her favourite occasion was, when having got there, it was cancelled because of rain! So we went into Canterbury town & to the Cathedral & she declared it the best day she had even gone to a cricket match.
We used to pop in and see them at Warwick Road with its large garden and your Dad's pride in his vegetables but his heart went out of it after she died & his own ability to cope made him take the smaller house in Cannons Close. I was very fond of your Dad & had been planning to see him after my cataract op. in March. Unlike your Mother I had played cricket at school & so had a familiarity with the game & we could converse about it with it on the TV. I shall always remember his voice & intonation.
Nick Belcher
I have nothing but the fondest memories of your father. I first met him in 1956 when my family returned from the USA and your father confirmed the short sight which American doctors had brought to my parents' attention.
It was not until I met your father that I obtained my first pair of spectacles and everything, including the blackboard at school, suddenly became that much clearer!
From then until your father finally retired from practice he was the only ophthalmic surgeon I ever consulted and I always had complete faith in his professional judgment. By the time he retired, I think your father believed that he had probably looked after me as a patient longer than almost anyone else. He was then very kindly referring me on initially to Penny Mayo and when she retired from practice I went to Simon Harris. Therefore throughout my 60 plus years of wearing spectacles I have only had those three assisting me and of course your father was by far the longest serving.
Quite apart from my association with your father as an ophthalmic surgeon I have known your father through you as you have been one of my closest friends since we first met back in 1956 when I first attended Waterside School. Although we then went our separate ways to different Prep schools, we then came together in 1962 when our parents sent us to Felsted School.
I well remember that you and I were first shown around Stocks's House by Olaf Simpson with our parents in the viewing party. I always remember your mother looking aghast when she saw the seven a sides bathroom and from a professional viewpoint querying the hygiene of such an arrangement! We all survived to tell the tale and share so many memories.
After such a long life it will seem very strange for you and Oliver to continue your lives without your father being in the background.
Until Geoffrey's health failed so dramatically last Autumn he had continued to enjoy life and it is nice that you have those last memories of your father in October whilst out in the Port Jackson Pub in Bishop's Stortford.
Bill and Christy Reman:
I know Geoffrey was loved by many as a kind and generous man. He certainly touched the lives of my parents and will be remembered fondly. We hope you can take comfort in your happy memories
Mary Podesta
He was a beautiful man and you all loved him so much and cared for him so well. I could tell by his communication that he was happy in his new digs. My prayers and condolences. I can picture him having tea with Sadie!
Michael Foster:
I first met Geoffrey 45 years ago working together at Clement Clarke in Harlow. Though 30 years my senior he immediately treated me as a friend as if of the same age. We shared a love of cricket and up until his early nineties spent many happy days watching Kent (Canterbury was a favourite).
Indeed, in 1985, Geoffrey turned out for my side "The Options", fielding well in the slips and not letting himself down with the bat. From memory he was ten not out and caught a good catch. I remember getting a duck! Mary and Julie watched from the boundary and we had a lovely meal together after. Your Mum and Dad were immensely supportive in 1979 when Julie lost a baby and again when both our girls were born very prematurely. We have always been eternally grateful for the help they gave at this time.
For over a decade Geoffrey worked at my practice in Barnet, where he built up a dedicated following of patients who appreciated his enormous Ophthalmic medical skill.
He was the "go to" ophthalmologist if you wanted an accurate refraction, diagnosis or second opinion. Whilst working at Herts and Essex Hospital on a Thursday it became a regular event to have lunch together at a pub near the hospital. I so enjoyed these meetings, which certainly provided light relief from the stresses of the hospital work.
He set an example for us all to learn from. Always a gentleman, kind and thoughtful to patients and staff alike. He loved a good joke! If I could be half the man that Geoffrey was I would be proud of my achievements. It's been a privilege to have him as a work colleague and friend. He'll be sadly missed.
Gill Hillman:
We were friends and neighbours for such a long time and he meant a great deal to me and to my family. I have so many good memories and spent much of yesterday and last night thinking about them. I spoke to my three children who all knew and loved him in different ways and they sent me very touching messages and sincere condolences to you and Oliver.
Pam Lee
Until recently I was churchwarden at St Mary's Birchanger and a good friend of your father. He was much loved by all of us here and I am sure that you will miss him a great deal
Tony and Gay Sandlant in New Zealand "Gaye & I were both very sorry to learn of Geoffrey`s death late last month. It really does seem like the end of an era to us .We both fondly remembered all those wonderful times we all had at Warwick Road, on skiing holidays in Austria, watching lots of cricket at Lords & elsewhere.
Both Geoffrey & Mary were extremely kind to us & opened their hearts & doors in a way that we will never forget. We were young, unsophisticated & naive New Zealanders in our " mother country" & we were both very grateful just how welcoming they both were.
We are currently full of sadness, but with the most wonderful memories which we will always cherish. Sadly we will not be able to attend the proposed memorial service in April, but our thoughts will be with you all, & we hope that you will keep us in "the loop". We still have a copy of Mary`s "service" sent to us by Geoffrey after she died."
(sorry Tony and Gay but unable to get your text larger)
12 Valuable Lessons I Learned From Geoffrey's Life:
From Geoffrey's older son Christopher.
1. Celebrate Birthdays: Your own and others: I remember lots of wonderful 21st April birthday's that Geoffrey was proud to say he shared with Queen Elizabeth. He was also keen to celebrate the birthdays of other family and friends. Here he is with me at my 69th birthday last October:
2. Watch Sports: We enjoyed football (soccer) with Oliver at White Hart Lane (the Spurs), cricket at Kent, Essex and Old Trafford and test matches at Lords, Rugby Sevens at Twickenham, tennis at Wimbledon and golf at Royal Birkdale
3. Play Sports; We played a lot of golf together and with Olive and our pals cricket at Hockerill and at Birchanger. Geoffrey also encouraged Oliver and I to play (field) hockey for Bishops Stortford where he umpired
4. Take Exercise: Geoffrey understood the importance of daily exercise and walking when possible rather than taking the car. This he passed on to his sons
5. Enjoy the Outdoors: We did a lot of family hiking and especially enjoyed Hatfield Forrest, the Highlands of Scotland and coastal footpaths
6. Celebrate what is Scottish and Irish: we enjoyed our Irish and Scottish heritage with trips to family and exploring these great countries by car, train and foot
7. Be Generous of Time and Gifts: Geoffrey was a great example of the importance of serving and sharing with others. This was both in his busy work life as a doctor, in his family life and spending time with friends.
8. Work Hard and Always Do Your Best: As an ophthalmic specialist, Geoffrey was a very hard worker with a busy schedule that included seeing patients at home on Saturday mornings when I sometimes was receptionist
9. Enjoy Art, Music, Theatre and Cinema: With my mother Mary we enjoyed classical music concerts at the Barbican in London, Cambridge Corn Exchange and Halle in Manchester. Geoffrey enjoyed visiting art exhibitions in London, often with his friend Gill. As an artist himself, he particularly loved colorful landscape paintings.
Here is Geoffrey at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens he visited with cousins John and Penny and I last April
I remember a time when we were young and went up to London. Oliver and I each wanted to see a different show. So, mother took Oliver to see the musical "Oliver" while father took me to the new movie of 'West Side Story".
10. Enjoy Gardening and Growing Flowers: When we moved to 56 Warwick road with its large garden, this opened a world of new gardening opportunities for both parents. Oliver and I enjoyed discovering paths in the overgrown back garden. I picked up Geoffrey's love of growing flowers from seed and I've since shared this with Granddaughter Hafsa.
11. Take An Interest in Others: Geoffrey had a genuine interest in others and what they are doing. When we spoke on the phone he often asked how Val, the boys and our granddaughter were. My step son Philip was the family member who last visited Geoffrey at Mt Fitchet House before he died
12. Love Dogs: We usually had a dog at home growing up as one of the family. Geoffrey's love of dogs was particularly strong with Oliver's dog Dylan:
Conclusion: We take no material possessions beyond death. What's important is the choices we make, the life we each live and the impact this has on others.
Like Geoffrey, we should try to set an example for others to follow rather than tell others how they should live their lives. We should share what we enjoy and love to do with friends and family and with others who come into our lives. Something Geoffrey did so well.
In these 12 ways and in many more I look up to and try to follow the example set by a wonderful father.
Christopher Ensor, Son