Friends and family turn out to honour charity champion Geoff Hill

Tributes were paid to Geoffrey Hill, aged 91, who was laid to rest at Holy Trinity Church in Wordsley yesterday.

The Stourbridge businessman gave thousands to charity and ran a successful electrical store for several years.

Renditions of JS Bach’s famous organ compositions, including Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, played as family and friends took to their seats inside the church.

A selection of photographs showing Geoff’s awards and generosity were proudly displayed on the funerals’s programme.

Nick Hill, Geoff’s son, said at the service: “I thought it was appropriate because my father was such a great teacher to narrow it down to key words: good, staff and profit.

“My father lived a distinguished and extraordinary life.

“His far-sighted visionary qualities enabled him to see the goals and shortest and simplest way to achieve them. Although the sum of the whole was greater than the sum of the parts, you must first see the value in the sum of the parts. In his own words, ‘you are only as good as your staff’.

“From the store to the charity shops, his ability to draw the best from his staff was unparalleled. He was enigmatic.

“One thing was clear – he had an all seeing eye, one that drew the respect of many. He was a well and truly disciplined leader, one who commandeered respect.

“He knew his greatest possession was his gifts and he gave those freely.”

Geoff’s shop, Geoff Hill Limited, which sells household appliances and electrical goods, has been in business since 1960.

The store originally opened on Brettell Lane, before it took over the supermarket next door as the business’ popularity grew.

It later relocated to Amblecote High Street in 1981 and continues now after a staff takeover a few years ago, but still retaining the name.

Rev Colin Jones conducted the service and read The Lord is My Shepherd, later performed by members from the Holy Trinity Choral Society.

Rev Jones said: “Geoff’s life was rich and varied at the beginning and end and because of that he touched so many people in many different ways.”

Mayor of Dudley councillor Alan Taylor and councillor and former mayor Steve Waltho both gave tributes at the funeral.

Mr Taylor said it was with ‘great sadness’ he offered his condolences on behalf of the council and of the borough.

He said: “Geoff was a stalwart of the borough and his name is synonymous with charity, generosity and community spirit.

“Geoff was the first ever recipient of the Mayor’s Award at the Civic Awards back in 2009 which was voted for by the public. This showed just how well known and how esteemed he was.

“Most residents in the borough knew his name and what it stands for - kindness, compassion and generosity.

“He was a remarkable man and although he will be missed, his legacy will live on.”

Former mayor Steve Waltho MBE said “We held a council meeting last Thursday and all 72 councillors stood in silence to honour Geoff.

“He was a wonderful and legendary person.

“He empowered people to do good just by being himself.

“He gave back so much to society and the borough owes Geoff a great debt of gratitude.”

A poem, Fly High Grandfather, was read by Geoff’s granddaughter Brooke Anderson before the coffin was carried out to Frank Sinatra’s My Way.

Kyrle Mitchell from Age Concern and Podmore senior citizens club, said Geoff was ‘very generous’.

He added: “When we needed money for the club Geoff’s charitable trust was very generous. He was a good businessman and that enabled him to be a good charitable person.”