Dimitri Sklavounos (G 63-67) has kindly submitted the following regarding his late brother, George Sklavounos (G 55-58).
                                      
“It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the death of my older brother, George. He died at home with his wife, youngest daughter and her husband beside him. His death was thankfully sudden, but not unexpected, and there is some comfort in knowing that he died in a similar way to our dad, without pain and with some of those he loved most in the world around him.

George, born in 1940, was at St Bees School from 1955 to 1958. His time there was not easy, but he threw himself into the challenges it presented. In doing so he developed his determination, resilience and self-discipline. He appreciated these qualities, which stood him in good stead in later life, even though they were tempered in the crucible that was St Bees. Like most pupils, he developed friendships that he valued immensely and maintained. George was strong-minded about many things. Academically he was very selective. He invested greatly in a few subjects that interested him and achieved good grades. The rest he discounted, which was reflected in his leaving St Bees with few qualifications. Sport was another area of selectivity. Although generally good, he enjoyed a limited number of athletic disciplines. The discus was one he particularly valued, as he connected this with his Greek heritage.

George began to develop more fully when he engaged in the world of work. His first job, in a shipping company, stimulated his curiosity and wish to make sense of things. This drove his intellectual development, and he embarked on a life-long education in shipping, business and economics. His hunger for knowledge and competence, combined with a wish for a comfortable life, led him to leave England with his very young family, and join two others in setting up a shipping agency in Greece. As his abilities and competences developed, he ventured into shipbroking, as his partners developed business interests in other areas also. George’s love of challenges and learning took him into other aspects of shipping. When he became a ship-owner for a period in his working life, I remember him saying in one of our many discussions that, ‘I want to be big enough to survive the ups and downs of the market, but not become so big that it dominates my life and every waking and sleeping breath.’  Eventually George left the world of ship-owning, and enjoyed developing several other innovative business ventures, before once again returning to shipbroking, as he continued to seek a balance between business and family life.

He had many admirable qualities, and too many to describe in this relatively brief piece. However, two particular memories reflect some significant ones. At a business event, I was told by someone in a similar company ‘You know, in a sea of sharks, George’s integrity shines through. That is a very rare quality in our business.’ This was echoed by many others throughout George’s life.

When his first grandchild became one year old, he decided he wanted to do something meaningful. With all the focus on Romania (following the overthrow of the Ceausescu regime) at that time, he heard that Bulgaria was another country in extremely difficult circumstances and yet not in the news. What he learned of their plight moved him. He decided that the best gift he could give his granddaughter was to raise as much money as possible to take essential supplies there. He approached many wealthy friends and business associates and asked them to add to his own significant donation. The money he raised enabled him to fill a fleet of long wheel base lorries with trailers with food, clothing, bedding, toys, and different supplies to withstand harsh winters etc. He then drove with them to Bulgaria, and toured the country finding out where the worst affected orphanages were, often with the most children, and distributed everything from all the lorries.

George also assisted many people with endless advice, for no personal financial gain, in setting up their own businesses. These include people who are now successful ship-owners. They all openly acknowledge, and are appreciative of, his mentoring. He enjoyed seeing people he valued achieve success.

George leaves behind his wife of many years and their daughter, and three greatly cherished daughters from his first marriage.”

 

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