Geoff Potter (9 Dec 1935 - 28 Jul 2023)

In loving memory of Geoff Potter who sadly passed away on 28th July 2023
Geoff was born in Southampton on 9th December 1935, but was evacuated to Ringwood with his family in the war years. However, he maintained his loyalty to Southampton in supporting the football club (The Saints) for his lifetime.
As one of six children he was familiar with a busy family life. He joined the choir at Ringwood church which perhaps began to formulate his Christian faith in later years; he enjoyed his time in the Choir and would often speak of some of the antics some of the boys in the choir used to get up to !
He trained as a Carpenter, but when he was called up for National Service, he was very proud to join the RAF as a wireless operator (like his father – who had died in the war). He learned Morse code - which he continued to remember during his lifetime – and spent much of his service in Cyprus during the Greek/Cypriot war in the 1950’s, intercepting coded messages from the Russians.
His return to the UK led him back into Carpentry and to become the proud father to Jason.
He was self-employed in the building trade, employing a team of workers and was respected amongst his colleagues, especially for his love and expertise in constructing roofs.
His second marriage brought him to worship at St. Mary’s Church where eventually he made a commitment to Christ at an Alpha Course. He was stepdad to Matthew and Tim and eventually, had to relinquish work to become Diana’s full-time carer during her terminal illness.

Both he and Jo renewed their Baptismal vows at the same time, not realising that Gods plan was to later unite them in marriage.
They married in 2001 and spent 22 happy years together enjoying much travelling, a great love for one another and were the best of friends. Geoff rekindled his love for woodwork by developing his hobby of woodturning and became a very accomplished maker of bowls and goblets. He was a perfectionist in all his work and was always humble about his talent and gift in this area.
He was a kind, gentle loving man who epitomised the reading from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which was his favourite passage of scripture

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.

Substitute “Geoff” in place of the word love and that says it all about him.
In return he was greatly loved and respected by all those who knew him. He was both a man of substance with a quiet, but firm, strength and a gift of sensitivity and compassion for others. He was a man of many qualities, deeply loved by so many and will be sadly missed.
The two charities chosen are in recognition of Geoff's illness with Kidney disease and his commitment to the Alzheimer’s society which has affected so many dear to him in his family.