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05.09.2018

David Henry George 1943 - 2018

We received the sad news this week that crane and access industry veteran Dave George passed away on Saturday. He was 74

He had been suffering from prostate cancer for a number of years, and after a number of partial remissions, he was told earlier this year that there was nothing more that could be done and that the treatments were simply causing unpleasant side effects. Having ended them he had hoped to visit Vertikal Days in May, but in the end he felt too weak to make it. He had been a highly valued member of the Vertikal Days team for many years as the safety officer, while helping with traffic and marshalling etc.. the last time being the highly complex heavy crane traffic arrangements at Silverstone 2017.

He was admitted to the Royal Gwent hospital in Newport hospital last month, following a fall and developed further complications, but passed away peacefully on Saturday, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind wife Margot and two sons, Paul and Andrew.
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Dave George


Dave George grew up in Bristol and after school took an apprenticeship as a hydraulics engineer. He joined local crane rental company GW Sparrows & Sons and sometime later moved to Grove Cranes where he started to expand his range of skills into training, safety and the like. Later moves took him to Lansing Linde as warranty manager- where he met Margot, and then Simon Gloster Saro which gave him his first taste of the access industry. From there he joined Nationwide Access where he really established his access career. When it came time to retire he decided to set up his own safety consulting company Access Quality Solutions and mostly worked with AFI, but it was also at this time that he joined the Vertikal Days team.

He also worked with the RAF Charitable Trust’s Royal Air Tattoo/Fairford air show where he helped out, particularly organising a platform each year for high level photography and filming. In addition to all this he was registered as a sports Anti-doping agent, called on from time to time to turn up unannounced at the homes of athletes with his ‘little pee bottles’ as he would put it, to carry out random drug tests.

He was a special character, even if you did not know too much about him, you felt you knew him well. If there had been an Olympic sport for talking, chatting and anecdotes he would have taken the gold every time. He loved his time at Vertikal Days mostly because it got him involved with his first love of cranes and provided a perfect opportunity to catch up with former colleagues. Many is the time he would come back to the organiser’s office and say “you won’t guess who I have just seen!”

He also continued to learn and soaked up new ideas like a sponge. Another favourite statement on returning to the office was “have you seen that gizmo that xyz is showing? That would be perfect for …..” or "That's a clever bit of kit that".

The problem was that there was never a shortage of good conversation in his company - a problem because it rarely included anything much about him and his life. Having felt that I have known him forever and feeling I knew him exceptionally well when I sat down to detail his career I found that actually I was struggling on the detail, So please anyone who can help fill in the gaps and chronology please do – Dave was a special character – a much loved character – a larger than life character – and he deserves a decent and accurate tribute to a long and varied career in both the crane and access industries.

I know for certain that I speak for all of us at Vertikal when I say we have lost a much loved colleague.

Rest in peace Dave
Leigh Sparrow

Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Monday 24th September at 13:00
Gwent Crematorium
Treherbert Road
Croesyceiliog
Cwmbran
NP44 2BZ

Afterwards at:
Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club next door to the Crematorium.



Comments

AndyP
I was very sad to hear the news of Dave's passing.
our industry has lost a great guy.

Sep 11, 2018

This charming man, trained me over twenty years ago. You could ring him up any time for advice, he was a font of knowledge. RIP Dave, you were one of the best

Sep 11, 2018

Les Warren
Very sad to here of the passing of Dave George. I also had the privilege of working with him, he will be sadly missed.

Sep 8, 2018

Access Advocate
if there was ever a man in our industry that deserved a reward or to be recognised for his professionalism in our industry it was Dave, this man had a world of knowledge in cranes and powered access and always had time for everybody, much liked was Dave. He will be sadly missed by many and the Vertikal Days will not be the same without him taking care of us all in Dave's professional way. R.I.P. Dave and condolences to the family. I will miss our reminiscing chats.

Sep 6, 2018

Mark Carrington
From the day I met David many years ago when he was helping specify some vehicles, he always made the point of coming to talk to me at trade events. What a lovely guy who will be sadly missed

Sep 6, 2018

Gerry Oconnor
RIP Dave.

, Gerry

Sep 6, 2018

Sherm
From across the pond I send condolences to the George family. It does my heart well to read about the dedication Dave drove his life with. I pray another servant will step up to fill his shoes to carry on in the WAH industry. His shoes will likely be tough to fill but it needs to happen for our future. R.I.P. Sir...I regret we didn't get to meet earlier in better circumstances.

Sep 6, 2018

Ian James
I was very sad to hear the news of Dave's passing.
A true gent and I will certainly miss our annual catch up and reminiscing at Vertikal Days.
RIP.

Sep 6, 2018

paul-richards43
I was with Phil Woodcock, a Grove colleague from the 80's, discussing the passing of Bill Newman when we read this news - we new Bill and Dave well, and are deeply shocked and saddened. Both were great guys - good company and real characters who left a big impression on the industry.

Sep 6, 2018

Alec Ullmer
Very sad news RIP David

Sep 5, 2018

My sincerest condolences to Margot and his family
David and I were great mates, were regularly in contact and he was a true friend
A very special man, great ambassador for the access industry who made a massive impression inside and outside the workplace
Will miss you lots
Rest peacefully
Mike Evans

Sep 5, 2018

jim-longstaff
What a sad day for the UK access industry.
Dave was truly a genuinely nice guy.
Extremely knowledgeable in his vast field of expertise, the mould was broken when they made him. The industry is a poorer place with his passing.
My sincerest sympathies to his family.

Sep 5, 2018

Devastated to hear the news of Dave's passing. I only saw him at another colleagues funeral a few months ago.

Dave was a genuine guy and a pleasure to work with for many years at Nationwide, his knowledge and enthusiasm were infectious and he will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his family.

Peter

Sep 5, 2018

FREEBO
Sad news indeed, had the honour to work with and alongside Dave several times and always a pleasure.

Condolences to his family

Dave F

Sep 5, 2018