Obituary

Gerald Puttick

It is with much regret that we announce the passing of Gerald Puttick in his 80th year. He died on the 7th March 2008 following a short illness.

Gerald was born by the Green in Fernhurst in 1928 and grew up with his grandparents. He attended Fernhurst Infant School, and was a member of the St Margaret’s Church choir, although this was more to do with the vicar allowing the boys to play cricket and less for religious reasons!

In his younger days, Gerald and his friends would cycle around the local villages to attend dances and have a drink or two. In 1948, Gerald served in the Royal Air Force for his National Service, learning the trade of mechanic on Lancaster bombers.

Back in civilian life, Gerald worked for Burrows & Paine (now the TVR garage) in Fernhurst, moving to Haslemere Motors for a time, before returning to Burrows & Paine. He is probably best known for being the Foreman Mechanic at ICI (later Syngenta). Gerald married in 1954, and retired early from ICI to nurse his wife Betty who was suffering with MS.

Gerald played a strong role in village sports life. He was a scorer for the cricket club and served the sports club over the years, but his biggest passion was football. All this is more surprising to learn that he never played competitively for the football or cricket teams.

Last year, the Sussex Football Association and the West Sussex Football League honoured Gerald last year, recognising his 50 years of service to Fernhurst Sports Football Club. He joined the club in 1951, serving as secretary since 1962. He was so dedicated that he would spend many hours at the recreation ground. On one occasion he returned at midnight to wash out the centre circle he had marked out that day, because he realised he had marked it out with the wrong diameter. Luckily, it was a full moon that night!

The Football Club also honoured Gerald last year with a surprise party at the Wheatsheaf in Midhurst, attended by players representing every decade of Gerald’s involvement with the club. Club Chairman, Roger Mountain, announced that Gerald was to become Club President, in this important centenary year for the club.

Over the last year old age has slowed Gerald, and we have seen less of him in the village, but his passion for the football club remained unaltered, demanding minute-by-minute accounts of each game.

Gerald was a quiet, private man who touched the lives of thousands of people in and around the village. He leaves a son and a daughter and three grandchildren, and hundreds of friends. The football club held a minute’s silence at their matches over the weekend as a mark of respect to their loyal servant.

Gerald was cremated at Guildford Crematorium on Friday 14th March. A wake, and celebration of Gerald’s life was then held at his second home – Fernhurst’s Sports Pavilion in the afternoon.