My eulogy to George by David Pickup

It is with great sorrow and pain in my heart that I have to notify former classmates and contemporaries at Oswestry School of the passing of George Roberts-Jones after a long and valiant struggle with lung disease.

On Wednesday, May 6th, more than one hundred and fifty people attended a thanksgiving service at St Oswald's Parish Church in Oswestry to say goodbye to a much loved friend, followed by a get-together in The Wynnstay Hotel to celebrate his life.

George was my classmate and lifelong friend and I don't think he ever fell out with anybody, such was his good nature. Full of fun with a wicked sense of humour, it was always a pleasure to be in his company and we had many laughs together.

George was my oldest School friend, and I remember that he was the first boy to come and say 'hello' and 'how are you?' to me on my first day at Oswestry School in 1952.

We were both aged 10, and found ourselves in the same classroom in what was known as the little green hut that served as the Prep Department, and we proceeded through Upper School together until his departure to begin a successful career in banking in the outside world circa 1958.

Whilst at School he enjoyed football and cricket, representing the school at both. George was a day boy who lived in Oswestry, and apart from his passion for pigeons and cars Carolin, pictured here with George, and whom he later married, was the true love of his life, and George was the envy of all his friends. 

Many are the stories I could retell. Far too many to elaborate on here, but I recall well the morning George brought one of his racing pigeons into class, releasing it during 90 year old "Papa" Webster's art lesson. Not only was the pigeon confused and flustered, equally so was the Art Master. Only the day before, my brother Bernard had brought a mouse into class, leaving it dangling over "Papa's" blackboard.

It must have seemed more like a menagerie than an arts class to the aged, hard of hearing, old timer, and as George's pigeon panicked, it deposited unwelcome packages all over the classroom in its frantic efforts to escape. Eventually George recaptured the bird, releasing it outside to find its own way back to its loft where it was reunited with its master at lunch time .

George, along with Carolin and several more Old Oswestrians and their wives, were founder members of our Sunday Luncheon Club which meets every six months, currently in Selattyn, to wine, dine, and reminisce about old times at Oswestry School during the 1950s. 

His presence will be sorely missed.

R I P old friend.