Obituary of Geoffrey Harding

Harry Geoffrey Harding was born in 1926, in England. He was born at home, in the industrial town of Widnes, just up the River Mersey from the bustling city of Liverpool. Geoff was the third of four children. Along with his brother Allan, and his sisters Nora and Nancy, he would deliver milk on bicycle every morning, before walking two miles to school. During World War Two, as bombs fell on England's industrial cities and towns, children were evacuated by the thousands. Several bombs were dropped in and around Widnes and more than 5,000 children were evacuated, the four Harding children were among them. Nancy recalls they went to Blackpool, but the arrangement lasted only a few weeks before the kids went home, preferring the threat of bombs to strangers. After finishing Grammar school, Geoff enrolled in the army and was stationed to post-war Germany. While he was there he assisted a doctor, and when he returned to England with a full-sized medical skeleton he announced he was going to study medicine in university. After graduating from the University of Liverpool, the young Dr. Harding found work aboard a ship that was sailing to Antarctica. He later worked for the famous American industrialist J. Paul Getty, in Kuwait. While he was in the Middle East he met his first wife, Vera, who had moved from Ireland to Kuwait, to work as a nanny. The couple had four daughters: Janet, Jennifer, Sarah, and Gillian. While practising medicine in Saskatchewan, Geoff met his second wife Barbara, and her daughter Lisa. The newly-combined family moved back to England, where Geoff's youngest daughter, Rebecca, was born. Geoff eventually returned to Canada, and moved to northern BC. He set up the first medical clinic in Chetwynd, before practising in Creston, New Westminster, and Gabriola Island. Dr. Harding only retired in his 80's and when he did, his patients were sad to see him go. At his retirement party his family members heard from several patients that Dr. Harding took time to listen to their concerns and really cared about them. In fact, many patients from New Westminster continued visiting Dr. Harding when he moved full-time to Gabriola Island, even though it took two ferries in each direction just to see him. After he retired, Geoff had more time for other pursuits. He attended the 60th anniversary reunion of his medical school in Liverpool, and then flew to Spain where he could immerse himself in the world of Flamenco dancing! He also spent considerably more time on Long Island in the Bahamas, building a modest house on property he had owned since the 1960's. Geoff leaves behind his loving sister, Nancy, his loving daughters and sons-in-law, a healthy brood of grand-children, and one great-grandson. A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, May 9, 2015 at South Peace United Church in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, officiated by Reverend Marilyn Carroll. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Geoffrey may be made to Kalamalka Rotary P.O. Box 113 Station Main, Vernon, British Columbia V1T 6M1, in support of a project in Africa, where Geoffrey had donated his medical equipment and books. Service 2:00 pm Saturday, May 9, 2015 South Peace United Church 1300 104 Ave DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 2J6