Its the least I can do having known George personally over quite a few years…
Please, leave any comments, personal insights etc on the life of one seriously unique addition to this planet and blogging in particular, this ‘One Off’ guy has touched a lot of folks during his blogging history, now is our time to celebrate the fact that George touched OUR lives, one way or another……
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Tags: Beachhutman, R.I.P.
January 15, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing george personaly,but have read his blog during my three years of blogging on 20six and also platform 27 he had an incredible way with words and took you on a journey trough his posts.
He was one of the first blogs I read when I started blogging and he will be sadly missed.
January 15, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I think is started reading BHM when he was recalling the difficulties he had with his mother. The stories were incredible, yet George kept plugging away at his goals. I remember one post when he was asking for recipes based on the contents of his refrigerator
Ah, George. You will be missed.
January 15, 2009 at 6:42 pm
George had an incredible busy last couple of years. He managed to by-pass the ageist recruiters in this country by making a niche for himself in China (which also involved work in the US and in the Netherlands). At the same time he sold up his old home in the UK and bought a place in southern Spain. He still found time to try and help myself in my own job search; I know he has helped many others during this period of time. It’s such a shame that he was struck down, just as he had got his life in some state of order, and the chance to start to relax and enjoy things again. Many fond memories (although I never met him personally) go with him. RIP
January 15, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I was an e friend of George for many years via Archers Anarchists and Borchester Asylum. George was a great friend – very supportive – always taking the trouble to help people out by searching for information, giving advice, offering support etc. His comments were always well worth reading, a very interesting man with a wealth of experience and knowledge. He thought the world of his daughter Kim and was obviously a very proud father. He will be greatly missed
Sheila
January 16, 2009 at 1:32 am
I was so saddened to hear the news of Georges death. I only met him IRL once, but feel I knew him really well on line. He was kind and witty and a lovely man. I will miss his postings. I don’t know what else to say- i am still taking in the news.
January 16, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I never met George but followed his life through his blogs for over four years.
Changing his life at his age to work and live abroad must surely have been, and still is, an inspiration to others.
I could always relate to him and feel that he would have been a good friend had I known him.
Here’s to you George, long may you be remembered.
January 16, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I never met George in person but he was always a kind and helpful chap. For no expected return he shared a lot of management tips with me in addition to the advice he put on his blogs. The stories about his mother were harrowing but he always showed his real human decency in his treatment of the old woman.
I really wish that I’d known him better and I had more to say.
January 16, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I’ve read his blogs – first about his mother, and then more recently Beachhutman – over the past few years and am very sad to hear this news. I’m very glad that he was able to enjoy himself so much before the end, but it’s a shame that couldn’t continue. I didn’t know him personally, but the fact that he was clearly a lovely and also a very entertaining person really came through in his blogs. He’ll be much missed. He seemed like such a good person.
January 17, 2009 at 6:47 am
I first met George in Knaresborough at Kim’s 18th birthday party, supposedly to be a meeting place for bloggers but I was the only one to turn up, a real good spread was put on with George preparing a lot of it himself….
Folks had a good time but because it was mostly ‘young un’s’ George and myself spent the evening in the cafeteria, and a good deal of chat too…. I thoroughly enjoyed myself that evening talking to George on a wide range of topics….
A few years ago George was on a wander around and ended up at my door, we decided on a trip over to Cleethorpes, over 20 years for George and a few for me, we were both somewhat disappointed at the way the place had become so run down… fish and chips at the ‘Leaky Boot’ was also disappointing…. George asked the serving wench to check if the fish was alien…. i.e. fish swim in water, not loadsa bloody grease….
Fond memories of a real nice guy !!
January 18, 2009 at 3:49 pm
http://macfawkes.20six.co.uk/
It’s amazing how the internet becomes such a vital part of your life.
It’s also amazing how friendships built up on line can become so central to your existence. How a fellow member of an egroup can become someone you initially exchange a couple of off-list emails with, then start following their daily lives on a blog, progress to the occasional phone call and to messaging via Skype and, for one one wonderful weekend back in 2006*, meet up and spend some quality time with.
http://macfawkes.20six.co.uk/macfawkes/archiveofmonth
I am of course referring to the great George Edwards, more commonly known online as ‘Beachhutman’.
His untimely death last week has caught me for six. Even after the passage of a few days I am still finding the news totally unreal. I mean, in cyberspace he’s still there. I can still follow the link to his wonderful, entertaining and informative blog. His posts, the last one dated only a couple of weeks ago, are still in the archives of the ‘Borchester Asylum’. And when I really want my heart broken I can click on the link to the dancing Santa Christmas card he sent but weeks ago…
http://pre.dancingsantacard.com/intro.php?user=919822
… that doesn’t look like a man who had given up on life, does it?
George had so much to live for. His exciting new life and work in Beijing. His daughter Kim, newly graduated, of which he was so proud. Making a new life for himself in Spain. Spending a happy retirement in the sun, depicting the views in watercolours, drinking wine in the company of friends and cruising around in his red SportsKa. Life, at the moment it was so cruelly cut short, promised so much.
George would no doubt be totally embarrassed to read that he was widely regarded by all who had had the pleasure of meeting him as one of life’s true gentlemen. He was someone who could strike up a rapport with anyone and who could fit in with any gathering of friends. He was an educated and well-traveled chap and one who, without being showy about it, was interesting company. But more than that he was a true, honest friend, one who would offer support and advice in any situation.
The world is poorer for his passing. I will miss him terribly.
January 18, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Sentiments many will echo macFawkes, without a doubt!
January 26, 2009 at 10:22 am
I had the great pleasure of knowing and working with George for over ten years, in fact we had great fun co authoring a book together. Over the years, in times of stress and challenge, we used to travel from our respective homes, to meet up in Richmond North Yorks and walk (our Richmond Ramble) and talk; putting our respective and collective worlds to rights and always call in to the art gallery where George’s work was displayed and ‘see how things were.’
A coffee in one of the local cafe’s would complete our journey and caffeine and conversation ‘perked up’ we would agree to meet again in the near future.
We had promised oursleves a ‘Richmond Ramble’ when George was next in the UK, sadly that ‘ramble of mind and memory’ will not now take place. George was a very special person and leaves a space that cannot be filled. Richmond will never be the same, in fact the world is a sadder place without him!
God bless and keep you George,
Stotty
January 26, 2009 at 12:06 pm
We were stunned to hear the news. Having shared an office with George for 4 years at ISM/ILM the news was so hard to believe. We loved George and had many happy times togther organising events, thinking things through over a beer and so on …. Having had a recent email exchange and even hoping to meet up in Malaga we know so much how sorely missed George will be, both the cheerful and philosophical version as well as the mardi and troubled one.
As others have said condolences to his daughter and ex-wife (Sheryl)
RIP George
Valerie & Barry
January 30, 2009 at 9:48 pm
My prayers are with his family. He will be missed by all. x
February 10, 2009 at 12:57 am
oh, my…I sent him an email today telling him about my new blog…I can´t believe it. We used to exchange points of view about teaching and he even sent me booklets he wrote for the trainings he gave…This is so sad. When did this happen?
MJ
February 10, 2009 at 8:15 am
13th of January MJ, I’m gonna post details of his memorial here shortly
February 10, 2009 at 8:30 am
You are warmly invited to..
The George Day.
A service to Celebrate George. You are warmly invited, to the
service that is being held to celebrate George, and to share
memories, and stories of his Incredible life.
A small request:
Please extend this invitation to anyone you know to have known,
love, or value George.
Date and Time: Wednesday the 18th of February. 2-5pm (Service and
Wake).
Venue:
Riverside, First Floor, Riverside Building,
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Gateshead Quays
South Shore Road
Gateshead
NE8 3BA
Website: http://www.Balticmill.com
Please R.S.V.P to:
Kim Edwards, (Daughter).
By e-mail: georgeday.thebaltic@…
Or by phone:
Home: 02075931599
Mobile: 07828496210
Notes from Kim:
A word of Thanks:
This day is in celebration of my Dad, a Wonderful man, and a well-
loved man. It is also however for me, a celebration of all the
Incredible, and Sublime people who were in his life. Whether you
are present or absent on the 18th, I’d like to take this
opportunity to thank you, for enriching my Dad’s life by being in
it.
Flowers:
Owing to the location of the service, please do not bring flowers;
but if you feel you would like to contribute something, making a
small donation to a charity that you feel Dad would support the
cause of, is a wonderful way to celebrate him.
George the Artist:
A small exhibition of George’s art work will be on show, if you
have any pieces of his work, and would like to bring them along to
display, they would be most welcome.
Travel:
By Train: Direct trains to Newcastle run from London Kings Cross.
The Baltic is located on the Tyne, and is within walking distance
from Newcastle Train station, or a short cab ride.
http://www.thetrainline.com
By Coach/Bus:
National Express:
(National Express are now also a major provider of trains to a
large number of UK destinations, this website is for travel by both
coach and train)
Website: http://www.nationalexpress.com/ Tel. +44 (0) 8717 818181
Mega Bus: (Highly utilitarian, but often spectacularly cheap)
Website: http://www.megabus.com/uk/ Tel. 0900 160 0900
By air:
Website: http://www.newcastleairport.com/
Customer information: 0871 882 1121 Flight Information:
0871 882 1131
Maps:
Multimap.com
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=BALTIC+Centre+for+Contemporary+Art%
2C+NE83BA&countryCode=GB
Streetmap.co.uk
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=425816&y=563917&z=0&sv=NE8
+3BA&st=2&pc=NE8+3BA&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf
Accommodation:
Travelodge. : http://www.travelodge.co.uk/
YHA: (Newcastle YHA is closed for restoration, but you may
consider staying in Durham, which is only a 20 minute train journey
to Newcastle.)
Tel: (+44) 191 3343358
https://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/northumberland-north-
pennines/hostels/durham-city/index.aspx
Premier Inn: There are Premier Inns in both Newcastle, and
Gateshead.
Durham University:
Many, if not all of the colleges that form Durham University, offer
B&B at affordable prices.These colleges vary dramatically in
distance from the train station, but the city is small and most
locations can be reached by a swift 20 minute walk. A 50p Shuttle
bus, runs from outside of the train station, to North Road, and the
Cathedral, -perfect for getting to colleges on The Bailey, (google
Cathedral Bus Durham). Newcastle is around a 20 minute train
journey from Durham. Please note that Durham is Hilly.
http://www.dur.ac.uk/colleges/
February 10, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I will remember him for his colourful tales about his mother. I still have some saved somewhere. RIP George, you will be missed.
February 10, 2009 at 8:19 pm
We had the pleasure of meeting George and his daughter Kim when George bought our house from us in Spain, since moving into the house we developed a fantastic relationship with George and spent as much time as possible with him when he came over to Spain. In the village of Cuevas De San Marcos, even though he was only over 4 times since he bought the house he made many friends here, all of whom are shocked with the recent event and all have said without exception what a fantastic man and larger than life character he was.
On a personal note we will miss him greatly, we had already started to plan things to do and places to go when he was next due over in April.
Although we only knew him for a short period of time we felt as if we had known him all our lives.
Kim, we really are sorry for your loss and if you need any assistance in sorting things out over here in Spain please do not hesitate to contact us, it would be a privilege and a pleasure to be able to assist George´s daughter.
Bob and Nina Giles
February 12, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Upset to hear the news about George. I had many conversations with him on 26 and 27 and caught up with him recently. Never met him in person but definitely benefited from his wisdom.
His photos and blog were always worth reading.
My first blogger-friend I think.
Sorry for your loss Kim.
We will miss you George.
Gutted.
February 14, 2009 at 2:51 am
I was so sorry to hear about George. Like others, I had never met him but always read his blogs. Such an interesting person and life. I was hoping he would come to western Canada one day and I would have a chance to meet him in person.
His Wrangling Wrinklies blog would definitely lift my spirits and make me laugh out loud. I, too, was experiencing elder challenges.
All the best, Kim. I will miss his wit and wisdom too!
February 15, 2009 at 4:32 pm
All blog friends are welcomed with open arms at the service, thank you for caring about my Dad, and the beautiful and caring words and memories so many of you have shared. I hope I’ll get a chance to meet some of you at the service.
Kim.
February 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I met George in 1998/9 ish to talk about some research I’d done with the DTI. We were in a little hotel in Harrogate and I was immediately impressed by this barrel of energy who was obviously not going to take anything too seriously. He told me he though that Copthall Bridge House (the ugliest building in Harrogate) should be demolished for the millenium. Amen to that!
Went up to see him again when he was with the Institute of Leadership and Management – again all the enthusiasm and energy. I don’t think there were any half measures
We haven’t spoken for a few years – but his passing is none the less sad for that, Beijing now has one bright light less
February 20, 2009 at 11:35 am
An old blog friend who will be missed. Quite clearly a very special man. RIP, Jo x
February 21, 2009 at 11:09 am
Still in shock. Met George in Nov08 at home of mutual friend in Yorkshire & immediately recognised his uniqueness. His enthusiasm for life was infectious and that was the beginning of our online development/planning discussions about creating an online EFL course for his Chinese Managers…how I enjoyed these brain gymnastics with you George, am all the better for knowing you f2f and online- thanks and may you shine in heaven.
Carol
March 7, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Really saddened to hear the news of George’s passing. My husband and I both knew him through work over quite a few years and he was truly a character. I was in a meeting once at a publishing house and noticed that the graphic designer had cut out and pinned up one of George’s letters to The Times moaning about the ridiculous state of pensions (Oh how true now George!). George was this man’s hero.
My husband and I send our condolences to his daughter of whom we know George was immensely proud.
March 9, 2009 at 4:49 am
Gutted. I found Georges BHM site over 8 years ago now, and although not a regular, everytime I needed a boost I’d go to my internet favourites and find the link to his blog. Always an entertaining read, regardless of the – sometimes desperate – situations he faced. At times I could draw many parallels with his life and it certainly helped me out. I am simply stunned to read of his passing, and pass on my regards to his daughter of whom he obviously thought the world, and to all the people who’s lives he touched. My world is richer for having known him, and RIP George – you’ll be missed.
March 17, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I had the pleasure of working with George several times in China and the US, and he was one of the original English eccentrics that keep us sane. His clear approach to life should be an inspiration to us all.
Thanks George – how will I read the menus in Beijing now?
May 5, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I just got the news of Georges” passing from Tracey, Thank you Tracey. I am in a state of shock. My youngest Daughter Lauren and I have been emailing with him for many years now. Lauren is now in the other room, crying as I am, writing this. We lost our dear friend. I have a beloved post card he painted for me while he was in Spain on one of his Vacations there, to escape the Granny Flat, as he called it. I sit here and write this as I look over at that post card in it’s frame and, it still doesn’t seem real to me. It seems like just yesterday, I got a dancing Santa from him for a Christmas Card and we spoke about how he couldn’t wait to cook on his roof top in Spain. George was the only person on this earth, that could make me laugh when I was down. I know how much he loved his Daughter Kim, as he spoke of her very often. He was a very proud Dad! I will always cherrish the years of talking to George over email, blogs and mail. The book he wanted to write about his Mom was wonderful. I have a draft of it that he had sent me not long ago. I read his adventures with her and, the money scammers and still laugh. George, today I’m not laughing, I’m hurt and shocked. You are someone the world will never have the pleasure of meeting again, you’re one of a kind! You are the dearest man I have ever known. The world has lost the greatest soul it had. I’ll always miss you George, Lauren will hold you dear in her heart, as I will for the rest of our lives.
Kim, I am so sorry for your loss. Just know, the rest of us, greive with you. He was a wonderful Man!
Donna
February 17, 2010 at 10:17 pm
It’s over a year now and I still miss George so much. I have five signed framed beautiful prints of the sea, fish and sun in brilliant yellow and blue and red on my walls, plus a hand painted Christmas card and a framed watercolour of a cat in a harbour in Spain on my shelf, so I am reminded of him every day. He came to visit me in Spain several times, and he even spent Christmas 2007 here with Kim. I last saw him 27/11/08, just a few weeks before he died, when he took me and my good friend Chris for a fabulous tapas lunch in Fuengirola while he was having his little red sports car serviced/repaired. I met Chris today and she misses him too. And she only met him that one time, but he stayed in touch with her, too.
He was a lovely special charismatic man, and we were both looking forward to his retirement in Spain and spending more time together when he retired. It is so cruel that having escaped the AP he couldn’t enjoy a few years in his beloved new house, painting, birdwatching and relaxing.
Luisa in Spain
August 1, 2010 at 2:14 pm
It is Sunday the 1 August 2010 and I am sitting at my PC writing a paper on 21st century leadership and still wish I could ring my old friend and discuss it with him! Couldn’t of course so I just lit a candle and kept on working!Still miss you my old friend.
Bob
August 1, 2010 at 2:27 pm
when I started blogging we were going through the chaos of the birth of a disabled son. Every day seemed to bring a new problem, a new specialist, a new hospital. We had no car and were both exhausted and at our wits end.
Talking to George and reading his blog helped me personally so much. As an impartial “virtual” friend he put things in context and passed on bits of advice that helped us rethink our problems – taking a stronger line with the medics to help ‘reclaim’ our son was one of them.
It also acted as a diversion. His incredible mother and the quagmire she chose to live in and the scams she swallowed all helped to take my mind off our problems for a little while and even to laugh.
I always checked his blog and looked forward to nosying into his life for 5 minutes.
Thanks again George. We’re okay now but I still miss your sage words and funny stories.
Miss you mate.
September 27, 2010 at 4:10 am
George, this is Rosemary, who had the pleasure to work and became a friend with you in Beijing. You are beyond words, even in my own mother language. Like someone said earlier, you are indeed larger than life.
Your supports and advice has been the light in my sad days. The conversations and laughters we had over beers and hotpots, we hope you enjoyed them as much as we did.
We miss you. You will live long in our memories.
Kim, best wishes to you.
Rosemary and Tony
January 13, 2011 at 2:48 pm
It is two years today. And so I’m here, reading all the touching things people have said about my Dad. I’m working my way through packets of tissues, and it’s not because I’m sad, it’s because of how beautiful a picture has been painted on a womderful man, how touched people have been by his passing, and how much love has been told, coming from my Dad, and abounding, for him.
I don’t know if his having passed on is much more real to me today, than it felt two years ago; but I do know that for however often I cry at the thought of his being gone, there is such an infinite comfort from the deep inner sense that he’s not. Whilst logic would tell me everything is very, wrong. The source-less comfort that came when he first left, and has stayed and increased in the time that’s elapsed since, tells me it’s all ok.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all, so much, for the things you have written. They will never cease mattering.
REQUEST FOR HELP:
I would also like to ask for some help. I know Dad always hoped I read his blogs, I never did. Last year, as I suppose was inevitable, they vanished. If anyone knows where I might be able to start, who I could contact, to try to find out if they’re out there somewhere locked in a filing cabinet of cyber-space, so I could get access to, or copies of the pages, I would be SO grateful.
You can reach me at yellowjeans55@hotmail.com
With love, and deepest thanks,
Kim.
P.S.
Donna, you mentioned he sent you a draft of ‘Wrangling Wrinklies; the book’. Whilst it’s probably in his laptop, which I have somewhere, if you’d feel comfortable sending me a copy some time, i’m sure it would make me smile.
January 14, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Kim, an idea, http://www.archive.org, if you know what you are looking for that might help
January 14, 2011 at 12:46 pm
and I still miss the old bugger………….lol