From a shop assistant to a Royal Navy Marine, to being chased through India in 1943 by a group of angry locals. He was a lover of Sherlock Holmes, Angling and had a passion for politics. George Webster was a fascinating man, with a fist full of stories and a comforting presence to be around. He was loved by many and found a hero and friend in everyone who he crossed paths with.
Born in Liverpool, on the 22nd March 1924, George Webster was a caring and clever individual. George was awarded a place at Leigh Grammar School and was offered a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Liverpool. Unfortunately his family could not afford the extra money needed for him to attend which lead him to joining the Navy during the Second World War.
During the war, George was stationed at various places across the globe. Most significantly in India, where it was a hot summers day and he was the driver on patrol with his platoon in an armoured vehicle when the sun's gaze reflected of a metal roof and temporarily impacted his sight. He swerved, and drove straight into a sacred cow. The locals stared in horror and chased him and his platoon back to the Navy base 3 miles away.
Gillian Webster, the second youngest of George’s daughters, remembers this story fondly.
“When he told me this story for the first time I was in awe. I must have been about seven years old but I remember thinking: Wow, I can’t believe my dad did that! He was always so clumsy. Most of his stories spin off from him making some sort of mistake.”
George met Ann after he left the Navy and was working at Monk’s Funeral Directors in Leigh. Five years later they were happily married and living in Bury, Lancashire.
George’s wife Ann, 82, said: “I remember the first day I met him, he was driving past the family florist and he tipped his hat at me through the car window. From then on I was smitten.”
George and Ann had six children together and were really struggling to make ends meet, so George, looking for a way to support his growing family, took a job as a bus driver and made a successful career out of it. until the day he lost his vision.
Gillian said: "When dad lost his vision, I expected him to be more upset than he was. I remember asking him why he was not upset. He told me that he had already seen the world, watched his children grow and lived a long happy life, full of wonderful memories and beautiful sites. Then he started laughing at the fact that couldn't watch Sherlock Holmes on repeat anymore; "Good job I've seen them so many times" he said".
George was a Union steward and clearly stood up for the rights of his fellow man. He had strong Socialist views and was a member of the Labour party.
Ann said: “He always used to head out to meetings all fired up with a new issue to discuss with everyone. He was so passionate about helping the community, that’s one of the things I miss most about him. I remember after the meetings he used to head to the pub with his friend Brian. They would both stumble through the door at midnight trying not to wake the children, but of course, he always did. He wasn't a quiet man.”
She said: “He put many of his own ambitions aside to support his family. Mum told me that their marriage was wonderful, although at times difficult, and they shared a very happy life together. He will be greatly missed by everyone’s life he touched.”
Since his passing on November 20th 2006, at the age of 82, he has left a great legacy behind for his friends and family to remember; because even though he’s not with us anymore his stories will continue to be shared and loved through the generations, because after all this was George Webster. The man who ran over a sacred cow.