My friend George is dead. He had known for many months that he had little time left after his seven-year battle with cancer. But he set his heart on one last Christmas Day which he enjoyed with his family around him. Having achieved his goal, he died peacefully in his own bed on Saturday morning.
It was fitting that I received the sad news from Juliet on Saturday as I was on my way to join members of the Leica Forum for a photowalk around Little Venice in London. George was a lifelong Leica enthusiast and was well known to forum members. I was able to tell his friends personally and we all thought of previous happy occasions when George had been with us, clutching his M camera and invariably producing better photographs than the rest of us.
I met George by chance in Red Dot Cameras one Saturday in 2013 and we struck up an instant rapport. He was a Macfilos reader and soon became something of a mentor, offering his sensible advice and, when needed, constructive criticism. Since George lived some 95 miles from London, in the New Forest, he relished a day trip to the capital for a chat and a chance to grab some photographs. Often we would meet at Henry’s Bar in Piccadilly for a “full English” and then take to the streets with our cameras. We usually managed to fit in a visit to Red Dot Cameras to meet his good friends Ivor and Elaine Cooper.
On many of these occasions he would sneak in a visit to Crockett & Jones in Jermyn Street. They knew him well. George, always a very dapper dresser, loved fine shoes and has left behind an impressive legacy of brightly burnished brogues and Oxfords.
In the five years since we met, George and I became best of friends. He was a wonderful companion, kind, generous, witty and entertaining. We were, as they say, on the same wavelength in so many ways. But throughout these five years George had his ups and downs, fresh hope and then disappointments. He withstood all the treatments and procedures with supreme fortitude and optimism, maintaining interest in his hobby of photography always. Two months before he died, he bought a new Leica M10-P and a retro 50mm Summilux. He was like a kid with a new toy. That camera, thanks to the help from Ivor and Elaine, brought an injection of happiness and gave him yet another reason to fight on.
George was a fine, highly talented photographer, and you can find some of his work on his website here. His photographs of Venice are outstanding, mostly taken with his M9 or M240 and his favourite 50mm Apo-Summicron and Noctilux lenses. George was a 50mm man in the best of traditions.
Over the past few months I visited George and Juliet at their home as often as possible and I was fortunate to see him just two weeks before he died. On that last visit he presented me with the William Hannah notebook which I wrote about on Friday. I sent him the draft of the article just before Christmas and he replied that it read well but that it was “perhaps a tad long”. Waffling on is one of my failings, I admit. Sadly, I suspect he did not see the fished article before he died.
George loved giving and would produce little presents at the slightest excuse. In the week before Christmas he boarded the local door-to-door bus service for the regular shopping trip to the Waitrose supermarket, a social occasion which he loved and kept up to the last, taking along his cushion to make himself more comfortable because he had lost so much weight.
He was loved by all the ladies on their way to get their weekly groceries. They all enjoyed a “Kaffeeklatsch” session in the Waitrose cafe and, of course, George could chat with the best of them. On this last shopping trip, he presented all his friends on the bus with a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates. Giving and bringing joy to others was an important part of George’s life.
Whenever I visited George he was plotting and planning optimistically for the future. It is what kept him going. I was due to visit early in January and he had asked me to collect one of his Montblanc pens to take to the store in Bond Street: “I fancy a new extra-fine nib” he told me, despite the replacement taking six weeks. “I hope I’ll have time….”
During his last months, we discussed the M10 and his wish to leave it to his four-year-old granddaughter as a memento for when she becomes 18. Instead, I suggested an M3 and retro lens as something that would be more appropriate, a timeless mechanical instrument that would mean more in 2033 than an elderly digital dinosaur. So, with the help of Ivor Cooper, we found the perfect camera and lens. It was to be George’s last and, probably, his most enduring gift.
Although George and I are of a similar age, we met only late in life through our interest in Leicas and photography. Oddly, we had worked half a mile from one another in London back in the 1960s, but didn’t meet until 2013. Yet, despite knowing him for such a short period, I can honestly say that George was one of the best friends I have ever had. He will be missed by his family but also by his many friends in the Leica world. I will treasure the memory of his friendship, his loyalty, his encouragement and his unfailing good humour and optimism.
George is survived by his lovely wife Juliet and his two children, Robin and Lucy, and of course, by his granddaughter Jessica who was the apple of his eye and who kept him going for much longer than the doctors thought possible.
Carry on clicking, George: The greatest gift you gave was your friendship.
I first met George when I arrived in the architectural offices of W H Saunders and Son in Southampton in 1969. He and I shared a back space in the drawing office and spent about 3 years working together. He was a good technician and I learnt much from him – I was a newly-qualified graduate from Sheffield University and had little knowledge about actually getting buildings built.
In those days we had big drawing boards propped up on bricks and used pencils, T-sqaures and Rotring pens. He and I talked much. Once we were discussing modern art; he said, “Mike, you’d see beauty in a sewer!”.
In 1972 I had designed an office building in Millbrook Road, Southampton, which I was quite pleased with. George kindly did the working drawings after I left to work elsewhere, and ensured that the final building followed my design. I am so grateful. We architects need good technicians like George to ‘get things done”!
He later came to work for me and my Partners at Gutteridge Woodford Chambers, Westwood Road, Southampton. He was the life and soul of the drawing office.
In October (2022) I am giving a talk to the Portsmouth City Council Sixty+ Festival on architects in Hampshire. I shall be mentioning George as a great example of an architectural technician…
I once went to his flat in High Street, Lymington, before he married Juliet. He/Juliet and I exchanged Christmas cards for many years.
I also knew his father – Sydeny (Sid) James who was an excellent Site Manager on my Multi-storey Car Park building in Southampton Road, Eastleigh.
George is greatly missed. I still posses and display a brilliant photograph of people walking in the New Forest taken by George.
Later he came to work for me and my Partners at Gutteridge Woodford Chambers in Westwood Road, also Southampton. He was great fun
Thank you Michael. We all miss George and I still find it hard to think that I will never again get an early Saturday morning call to say he had jumped on the train on the spur of the moment and would I like to meet, usually in Henry’s Bar in Piccadilly, for breakfast. I am sure Juliet will be happy to see your comment. Mike
Yes, very nice article. Suitably elegiac.
A beautiful tribute, Mike. Very moving even though I never knew George in the slightest. Thoughts and best wishes to all in a time of sadness.
Jason.
A lovely article – I think George would be pleased.
He produced wonderful pictures and had superb post processing skills.
Here’s to the happy memories – Waitrose won’t be the same without him.
Thank you, Robert, and also to all the other readers who have commented on this article. Juliet James was moved by the article and also felt that George would have appreciated it. Writing an obituary is not an easy thing, and it is something I would not normally feel inspired by. But in this case I just sat down and the words came flowing out. It was easy because there was so much positive about George.
This reminds me that I haven’t seen you for some time. I do hope our paths will cross again at some Leica event or other.
Mike
I didn’t know him but it seems it was a good man, RIP
robert
A wonderful tribute to a kind and wonderful man.
sorry about your loss of a friend of yours. A moving tribute
Jean
Thank you for your moving account, Mike – and for the link to George’s website. With best wishes for 2019. Richard.
Sorry to hear about your friend George Mike, you often talked of him, a constant on Macfilos.
R.I.P.
This is a beautiful and loving tale of two great pals
Beautifully put… Rest in peace George.. you were a truly wonderful person.x
A wonderful tribute Michael, to a person who was special to you and many others.
I am saddened to hear this news Mike, I know from the bits you have said that George was a good friend. If there is a positive he saw Christmas with family, and family is most important at this time of year. Your words are a fitting tribute, and I will go over his images too via the link. Our images become our lasting legacy in the digital age.
Life is the most precious thing, and I would like to take a moment just to wish everyone at Macfilos a Happy New Year. I for one cannot wait to say good riddance to 2018, it has had some heavy bumps in the Seargeant household, and I am hopeful for a better 2019 full of zest, fun and photography. Oh and Mrs S has booked me in to see a show of some kind almost every month as I cruise up to my 50th. Starts on the 2nd Jan – I am off to see Bat out of Hell before it finishes.. lol.
Happy New Years folks. And my sincere condolences to Georges family. Dave S x
Lovely tribute, Mike. I am sure you have many fine reminisces’s. Reminds us all of the truly valuable things in life. Take care.
Mike, This is a fine tribute to your friend George. My condolences to you for losing such a fine friend. He was a superb photographer too. It’s a great pity we never saw his photos in your blog. Thank you for including the links so that we can all enjoy the benefit of his talent.
What a well-written and fitting tribute to one of life’s treasures: a true friend. While I never knew George, you certainly made me wish I had. He lived that "it is better to give than to receive," and in so doing blessed you and all who knew him. Thank you for sharing your sincere thoughts; very inspiring.
Share time with him!
It is a double sadness when the inevitable happens during the Holidays, but now George joins the great Leica Alumni in the heavens. Condolences to his family and you and all Forum members who got to share time other him!
Mike, I am so sorry to hear about losing your friend George. Our love of Leica brings many of us together, with whom we form such strong friendships. This is so important to me with my Leica friends I have made all over the world over the years. I am honored that he was able to get one of the LHSA 50 APO Summicrons and that it brought him great joy!
Thanks Bill. Your comment reminded me I made a mistake. It wasn’t an LHSA Apo but a retro Summilux, one of the batch made r gently. Sorry about that.
No problem Mike, as I had a hand in that one too as it is based on the original LHSA 50 Summilux!
I only met George a few times in LUF London walks or in Red Dot. Those times must have been between 2011-2015 – he was already losing weight. It was always a pleasure to share a moment with his joy for life smile.
How very sad, Mike, but an endearingly moving tribute to a friend moving on to pastures new. It is all too rare to read of such a generous person who I only knew through your column. Peace be with George James.
A wonderful compliment to someone I never knew but wish I had as he obviously was a wonderful man. Sadly a rare breed nowadays.
Mike
Thanks so much for this tribute to George. I think you’ve said it all. He was a wonderful, kind person, and I always enjoyed chatting with him about Leicas, watches, cars or whatever. His work with an M and his usual choice of a 50mm of some kind was magical. A true master of the M camera.
He will be sorely missed.
My condolences to Juliet and the rest of his family, and friends.
Rest in Peace George.
I am saddened to hear about the passing of your great friend, Mike. You have often mentioned him and he was in every way a true Leicaman and a great photographer. I never had the privilege of meeting George as my visits to London have been few and far between. It is obvious from your comments and those on the Leica Forum that he will be widely missed in the photographic community.
William
Sorry to hear of George’s passing. It is always difficult to lose a friend.