Town mourns war veteran’s death

From the Redditch Advertiser, first published Tuesday 5th Jun 2007.

MANY Alcestrians are mourning the recent death of one of the community's most active members, Normandy veteran Geoff Spires.

Mr Spires passed away, aged 81, on May 10 at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and his funeral was held on May 18 in a packed St Nicholas Church.

He was a very well known figure in the community and was involved in charity work for many organisations, including the Royal British Legion, the Alcester branch of the Stratford Volunteer Centre and the St Nicholas Churchyard Committee.

He had been married to Joyce for 58 years.

Mrs Spires said: "I will miss him so much, he was the heart and soul of Alcester. I just feel as though I'm cut in half, I can't come to terms with it at the moment.

"People have been so kind, I want to thank everyone - the hospital and all my family have been wonderful."

Mr Spires was one of the soldiers who landed in Arromanches during the D-Day landings in June 1944.

Chairman of the Alcester branch of the Royal British Legion, Bill Malin, said: "He was a first class man and a very committed member. He was always at poppy appeals and coffee mornings and was a great chap to be with. He will be sorely missed."

For many years, Mr Spires drove elderly and sick people who were not mobile to hospital for the Stratford Volunteer Centre.

Manager Clarissa Roberts said: "He was a very caring and lovely fellow.

"All of the clients he helped appreciated him a great deal. He was a very community-minded person and has been a great support over the years to many people in need."

Lifetime friend Sylvia Hyde, who lived next door to Mr Spires in Swan Street when they were just children, added: "He was so friendly, you always saw him walking around the town and he always had the time to stop and talk to you. He will be terribly missed."

Archive Home