Geoffrey Whitham Hartley (QM 1942-51)

Died 22nd February 2020

Geoffrey Hartley passed away on Saturday morning 22nd February 2020.

He was born on 20.11.1933 and attended the Grammar School where he made lifelong friends, many of whom have pre-deceased him.

After QM he joined the South Staffordshire Regiment, attaining the rank of Captain and serving in Cyprus before joining the family company Hartley & Baldwin (Nuts & Bolts) Ltd which was sold to Rubery Owen, where he became Managing Director of Rubery Owen (Nigeria) Ltd, retiring in 1984.

Dad was an excellent sportsman, captaining Walsall Cricket Club. He also played for many years at Walsall Rugby Club and represented Staffordshire at cricket, rugby and, I think, hockey. He was also a member of MCC, Gentlemen of Staffordshire CC, Forty Club and Stragglers of Asia CC. He represented Staffordshire on the RFU for a period.

He always remembered his schooldays and school chums with great affection.

Geoffrey Whitham Hartley by his son Andrew

Picture courtesy of Jim (Hugh) Sutherland, a school friend and contemporary. Jim says “Geoff, Bill (Davies) and I were going through the corduroy cap phase”