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Fr David's Funeral Address for Geoffrey Greenstreet RIP 23rd January 2006

‘Do not go gently into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’

Those words from Dylan Thomas’ poem written to his dying father some how seem apt for Geoff. I can see why the poem has been chosen for his funeral.

I think we will all agree that Geoff did not do things gently. We will all remember him as an outspoken politician and tireless campaigner here in Watford and especially in Oxhey. He was a man of passion and drive. We can’t imagine him going gently into that good night.

Geoff was born and brought up with his late twin brother Roger here in Oxhey starting life in Cross Road although he went away to school in Romsey. (Maybe a bit of the Mountbatten influence rubbed off there!)

Geoff spent his working life in the district. He did his engineering apprenticeship with Scammell Trucks in Tolpits Lane, later working as a Vauxhall Service Manager in Hatch End, then for a forklift truck company and latterly as warehouse manager for EMI medical in Radlett.

However it is for his work in the local community that he will be best remembered. His politics were Tory and he served the people of Oxhey for 25 years as a local councillor with a special interest in planning. The high light of this was his year as Mayor of Watford from 1983 to 1984.

In addition he was involved with several other bodies including the Watford Carnival Association, the Herts Police Consultative Committee and as Chairman of Governors at Watford Field School. He was actively involved in OVEG from its foundation in 1975 and a supporter of local scouting.

Geoff was also very much a family man as a wife to Jill, a father to Eric and his wife Margaret and to Mark and his wife Annette. He was a grandfather to Adam and Ben. He had a great love of old Rover cars with several garages full of bits. He enjoyed auctions and car boot sales and collecting antiques, especially grandfather clocks. He would relax by watching The Bill, Casualty and Holby City as well as cricket. He was fond of German Shepherd Dogs Barney and Toby.

There is much to give thanks to God for as we look back over Geoff’s life. Geoff died a Christian. That Christianity found expression in his love of the Book of Common Prayer and the Authorised Version of the Bible, hence his desire that they be used at his funeral.

In contrast Dylan Thomas’ father was an atheist who would have drawn no comfort from St Paul’s resurrection faith as expressed in his Epistle to the Corinthians. For Thomas death was a dying of the light and an entry into darkness. For the Christian death is partly about darkness. There is sadness, pain and grief, but it is also an entry into light, into the presence of Christ who is the light of the world. It is to that light that we hand Geoff over to God in this service.

Grant unto him eternal rest;
And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Amen

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