Gervase Dodd (F 56-61).

His daughter Corinne has contributed the following.

“Gervase Dodd, 80, passed away on 4th April 2023. He was generous, musical, multi-talented and in possession of a sense humour which was never far from the surface. During his life he participated in, and led a broad variety of activities which touched many people’s lives. He was a proud St Beghian throughout his life and retained friendship with many he met while at school.

Gervase was a popular pupil and during his later life, frequently regaled his family with stories of high jinks, musical activities and sporting events against the arch enemy, Sedbergh School. A talented musician and a member of the Corps band, he had responsibility for playing the Last Post on his trumpet at the end of each school day at 10pm. He continued to play for much of his life.

After his A-Levels he went to Reading University in 1961 to study agriculture and he threw himself into student life with vigour and enthusiasm. Some might say that he enjoyed himself a little too much as he was required to re-sit his final year following his commitment to all things social and musical.  However, he met his future wife, Alison, during this year at Reading so it was a very positive outcome for all concerned!

Following university, Gervase went into the steel industry on a graduate scheme and got his foot on the first rung of the ladder of what would lead to a successful career in human resources. He and Alison married in 1966 and had their first daughter in 1969 and their second in 1971. They were now settled in Chester.

Moving on to what was then called Greenall Whitley, a Warrington-based brewer and pub operator, he was a founding member of the personnel department. He would spend 29 years with the business as it grew and diversified, and he managed or was involved in many acquisitions, closures and disposals.  For the last ten years of his employment until retirement, he was Director of Group Personnel Services.

During his retirement he took on the renovation of a small 17th-century hall in the Cheshire village of Alvanley and he and Alison spent nearly thirty years living there. His dedication and ability in carpentry, building, landscaping and other DIY allowed him to transform the very tired, old listed property into something to be proud of. He was an active supporter and participant of country sports and a lover of the countryside. While living in Alvanley he also instigated and organised the Alvanley Village show for many years. He even undertook a survey of wildflowers found within a mile of the village centre. He enjoyed sailing with his friends, fishing trips to Wales and Scotland, and in the 1980s was a rower with the Grosvenor Rowing Club in Chester, travelling far and wide to regattas. During his Greenall’s career, he was a regular member of the company quiz team. He never lost the knack for remembering the most random facts and dates. Throughout his life, but particularly after retirement, he and Alison enjoyed frequent travel to places including Peru, Egypt, Italy and Portugal.

Gervase passed away after a relatively short illness and his life was celebrated at a lunch for friends, acquaintances, and relatives at Bangor-On-Dee racecourse where he spent many enjoyable days. The number of guests who attended was a testament to his kindness and character. He leaves a wife, two daughters and four grandchildren and will be greatly missed.”

 

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St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk