GEORGE ALLEN grew up in Devon, one of eleven children. He attended Newton Abbott Grammar School and then, at the age of 18, started an apprenticeship with the railway in Reading. It was here he met his wife-to-be, Paula, who worked in the Drawing Office.
As was the way in those ‘olden days’, George asked Paula’s dad, John, for her hand, and they were married 57 years ago. They moved from a flat in Reading to a maisonette in Caversham. Later they moved to Kidmore Road and then Matlock Road, where they spent much of their family life. Their children remember many happy occasions there, including street parties and their 25th Wedding Anniversary.
George was a very practical man, and was known for his ability to fix almost anything. When on holiday, he would always have a tool kit ‘just in case’ and, for some years, he was the ‘Manse Steward’ at the Methodist Church in Highmoor Road – which often meant he fixed the problems at the Minister’s home himself!
He was always a ‘doer’. He became a school governor at his sons’ school, which started a long involvement within the community. This included organising the school fete, collecting papers with the Scouts, putting staging up for the choir, volunteering with Parent Partnership, helping with the sound system for the church, and delivering the Caversham Bridge.
On retirement his main endeavours were Odd Job George, handyman for hire, and volunteering for an organisation, Parent Partnership, then managed by a friend. The Partnership advocates for parents of children with additional education needs. He enjoyed choral singing, joining first South Chiltern Choral Society and then enjoying many years with Riverate, which meets at Caversham Heights Methodist Church.
In 2005, George and Paula became grandparents, embracing all aspects of their new status, from babysitting to making and repairing toys. The family would say, ‘If anything breaks, take it to Grandad!’ Despite health issues, George continued to maintain his garden, sing with Riverate, and was delivering the Caversham Bridge until just a few weeks before he passed away.
Over the years, George helped many people with his practical, problem-solving, skills and he leaves behind friends and family with many happy memories.
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