Dedicated to the memory of Geoffrey Charles Hands (12 August 1928 - 18 March 2020)

No mere words and pictures can do justice to Geoff's 91 rich years of life. Kind, strong and clever, he could find an ingenious solution to almost any problem, and it was always a pleasure to be in his company. Leaving school at 16, he studied Chemistry in evening classes and then worked for 40 years in the Laboratory of the Government Chemist as a professional chemist. He published 6 research papers in the course of his career and was a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry for over 60 years. His interests were many – he gave up his motorcycle to buy a piano for his wife in the 1950s, and was a keen chess player and amateur astronomer. He built his own telescope from fibreglass, accurately grinding the powerful lenses by hand. Geoff did DIY because he had to - his speciality was shelves - but he gardened because he loved growing plants from seed: flowers, vegetables and superlative tomatoes. Geoff also loved to read, detective fiction and history in particular, and he was a staunch supporter of public libraries. Visiting historical places and walking in the countryside were favourite pastimes that he shared with his family, along with playing games, ranging from cricket and tennis on the beach to Scrabble every evening in his later years. Geoff was a lifelong QPR supporter. But most of all he loved his family: Faith, his wife of 65 years, and his daughters Jenny and Clare. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren David, John, Clare, Grace, Fern and Xanthe, who all take after him in different ways. He is greatly missed and will never be forgotten.

Private Cremation

Geoff was cremated privately on 14 April. Only very close family were able to attend, on account of the coronavirus crisis.

The service included the following elements:

'All Hail the Power of Jesu's Name', sung by massed choirs to the tune Diadem. Geoff and Faith used to sing this hymn with their children on long car journeys, back in the days before cassette tape and CDs.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1-15.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure for ever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

'Lead us Heavenly Father, Lead us', sung by Sheffield Cathedral Choir.

The Little Things, by Tony Hopkins

It’s the little things.
The book he didn’t finish lying there;
The stick against the wall behind the chair
where he napped and watched his telly heavy eyed,
Chemistry World in prospect at his side.
Here are the specs he’d so easily lose
And there is the mobile we nagged him to use;
These are his slippers, his coat and his hat ‒
But past tense now, remember that.
A polymath yes, a brilliant mind,
He had a way with tomatoes and always was kind.

In highest esteem and love he stands,
A special man was Geoffrey Hands.
But he’s left us a garden not an empty chair
And when we look we’ll find him there.

Acker Bilk, Stranger on the Shore, 1962 recording.