Machinery Market has been advised by Phil Geesin, of Sheffield-based Phil Geesin Machinery Ltd, that his father Eric — a well known figure in the machine tool industry in the 1950s, 60s and 70s — died on 7 July aged 95.
Apprenticed to the aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle, he spent much of WW2 making parts for the ‘war effort’, including those destined for Spitfires.
Eric married Christine in 1949, settled in Whitley Bay, bought a small engineering suppliers firm in the early 1950s and was an early member of the British Association of Machine Tool Merchants (now EAMTM).
Following ‘tough times’ in the 1960s, his company was ‘wound up’ and he subsequently worked for Thos W Ward Machinery Division as a representative in the North East. He achieved considerable success in this role and was affectionately known as “the chap with the bow tie”.
Eric’s next venture was undertaking a similar role at WE Norton; his final position was with Northern Machine Tools, working with Mr B Ord.
Eric was an avid caravaner, siting his first at an old wartime airfield in 1955. Another passion was railways. He ran a steam train (Lady Joy) at Sheffield’s ‘Abbeydale Club’ and a large OO-gauge layout in the cellar of his home.
Eric leaves a son Phillip, daughter in law Lorna, daughter Gillian and son in law Michael, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.