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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 7
TRIBUTES TO GERAINT PRITCHARD
For many years I took a neighbour of my
father to Chapel in the small market town
of Morpeth. The lady, Emma, I knew was
born in Llanrwst, Anglesey and moved as
an employee of the Civil Service to London
in the 50s. When a certain Welsh
Presbyterian Minister was made aware of
her arrival in London she was welcomed to
his Chapel, Jewin. Here she met up again
with a friend from her school days and
also became great friends with other
members of this family.
Eighteen years ago on a particular Saturday
I received a call from Emma to tell me that
she wouldn’t require a lift the following
day as she had visitors and in fact was
going to attend an afternoon service at
another chapel, further North in Amble,
which had been reopened following a
refurbishment. The preacher that day
would be Mr. Alan Beith, Lib. Dem
member of Parliament for Berwick, also a
very able Methodist Lay Preacher. I
mentioned to Emma that I may well meet
up with her at Amble.
The following day after returning from the
morning service with my father to his
home I received a telephone call from
Emma inviting me to take a lift with them
to Amble. It turned out this visiting friend
was a Geography teacher who in no way
resembled any teacher I had ever met at
my school.
Following that service in Amble we walked
to the harbour to take photographs of the
Staithes, now in disrepair. I think this was
the beginning of my Geography A Level.
Thankfully I had remembered a reasonable
amount about cloud formation, Fluvial,
Glacial, Rift and Flat-bottomed valleys
and of course the Northumberland/
Geraint and Marj
Durham Coalfield, I thought I was off to a
flying start.
After returning to Morpeth that evening I
enjoyed a cup of tea with this interesting,
challenging visitor then returned to my
home.
The following morning the telephone rang
and I was asked “Is the coffee shop open?”
Geraint arrived with a barrage of questions.
It became obvious that we shared a love of
the great outdoors, challenging walks,
foreign travel and theatre visits. I was
slightly concerned when I was asked what
my standard of typing was like. Little did I
know, that years later, I would have some
input into this renowned magazine.
We corresponded for the next few months
then eventually started meeting up at
weekends for visits around the UK, usually
starting in Yorkshire, not quite a midway
point but a convenient place to leave one
of our cars. As the years went by I continued
to be amazed how Geraint would strike up
conversations with unsuspecting strangers
who would eventually share some link,
whether it be birthplace, education,
employment, travel or tea and coffee shops.
His love of discovery was infectious. He
was the most prolific communicator I have
ever met, but then you all know that and
many have benefitted from his great
interest and fellowship and ability to
network with all who wished to respond.
I would like to thank all Old Stationers
who played such an important role in
Geraint’s rich life, those of you have
managed to visit our home in Harewood
and also who have given me support and
encouragement over recent weeks.
It has been my privilege to be part of
Geraint’s life
Marj
Family tribute
We thought we knew Geraint very well
but what has become apparent in this past
ten days is how much his life has impacted
on all of you here and on so many others
who can’t be here today. We have been
overwhelmed by tributes and compliments
you have paid expressing your own personal
relationships with Geraint ~ to quote a few
of the words you have sent ~ inspirational,
enormous enthusiasm, total dedication,
Geographer par excellence, ability to recall
minute details, larger than life, insatiable
appetite for knowledge, a passion for
people and his joy of discovery. Thanks to
you, we feel we now know him even better.
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