05-09 2020 00:28
wrote:
I first met Gerald in July '74 when he led a group of Buckhurst Hill lacrosse players in a short demonstration at my school, West Hatch. His infectious enthusiasm caught instant hold of eight of my classmates, and most of us dropped other sports to commit to lacrosse summer training and winter Saturdays for a league season with the BHLC "B" team. We lost heavily several times in the winter of '74/'75, but even as a senior player, Gerald made sure to welcome us as friends to the Clubhouse after games. His positive but modest attitude and vision for the future created the environment for big changes over the following few seasons; some excellent players transferred to the Club and a spirit of ambition and growth flourished. Nigel and Jeremy have mentioned that Gerald always wanted to plan for the long future and made every effort to build on strong foundations for every aspect of his life, prioritising family, career, and sports in that order. He never failed to enquire about my family, and he clearly rated this as the most important factor in a life. To say that Gerald was proud of Nigel and Jeremy and their wives and children would be an under-statement, but most of all he always said how lucky and privileged he was to have met and married Jean. Gerald built a life around Jean, and he lived it well. He is missed by all, and as BHC&LC members, we must carry on to build for the future as he exemplified. Commiserations to the family, and we look forward to gathering to raise a glass in celebration of his life at the earliest opportunity.
05-09 2020 00:28
wrote:
I first met Gerald in July '74 when he led a group of Buckhurst Hill lacrosse players in a short demonstration at my school, West Hatch. His infectious enthusiasm caught instant hold of eight of my classmates, and most of us dropped other sports to commit to lacrosse summer training and winter Saturdays for a league season with the BHLC "B" team. We lost heavily several times in the winter of '74/'75, but even as a senior player, Gerald made sure to welcome us as friends to the Clubhouse after games. His positive but modest attitude and vision for the future created the environment for big changes over the following few seasons; some excellent players transferred to the Club and a spirit of ambition and growth flourished. Nigel and Jeremy have mentioned that Gerald always wanted to plan for the long future and made every effort to build on strong foundations for every aspect of his life, prioritising family, career, and sports in that order. He never failed to enquire about my family, and he clearly rated this as the most important factor in a life. To say that Gerald was proud of Nigel and Jeremy and their wives and children would be an under-statement, but most of all he always said how lucky and privileged he was to have met and married Jean. Gerald built a life around Jean, and he lived it well. He is missed by all, and as BHC&LC members, we must carry on to build for the future as he exemplified. Commiserations to the family, and we look forward to gathering to raise a glass in celebration of his life at the earliest opportunity.
