Geoff Issott, 1937-2023

Sad news today: after a brief stay in hospital, Geoff died last Thursday.   We last saw him in September of last year when we were staying in Bellinzona, and although he was by then a bit confused, he and Pam had walked the mile or so to the restaurant where we met.  That was a few days after his 85th birthday, so although he’d had some physical health issues, he seemed as fit as a fiddle.  His health had begun to slide by then, and although visiting carers had allowed him to stay at home as long as possible, he spent his last few days in Berne’s Insel hospital.

Geoff and I first met in May 1974, when I went to Lausanne to work for a few weeks as a translator at a Universal Postal Union Congress.  Geoff was already on the UPU staff as a translator, and went on to finish that part of his career as head of the English translation service.  We’d met in the meantime at the 1979 Rio de Janeiro Congress, and I visited the gang again at the 1984 Hamburg Congress, though as a tourist that time, not as a translator. I made many friends through the UPU Congresses, notably Claire Smith, whom I mentioned here last month, Barbara Atkinson, whom regular readers will remember, and Anne-Louise Picard, one of the Canadian translators at the Rio bash.

Geoff, Pam and I went on to meet frequently in each other’s various homes, and they invited me to join them on a memorable tour of  Southern India: it had been planned as a cricket tour, but when they couldn’t organise the fixtures, they decided to make a holiday of it and invite some friends.  

Formidable linguist, excellent company and a loyal friend.  I shall miss him.

Spring, eh?

 

As I write on Saturday, the weather is fine, and the first tomatoes are outside where we hope they will survive and bear fruit.  The Sweet Olives have gone very leggy, so will be vulnerable to strong winds.  The San Marzanos are more compact, and are placed where we can tie them back to the wall if need be.  We planted out the runner beans during the week, and wait to see if they improve on last year’s miserable performance. 

Tuesday brought heavy showers, some with hail, which was slow to thaw.  There was enough rain to submerge the fountain head in the overflowing pond.  The marginal bog irises look pleased..

Aeroplane noises as we lunched: a Tiger Moth and a Chipmunk flying round and round in very close formation.  The Tiger Moth (actually, it might have been a Stampe) even flew a couple of very compact loops: we were surprised the pilot dared in such an ancient airframe.  Martyn passed a nearby wedding venue earlier, and it was showing all the signs of a posh do, so we image the aerobatics were part of the bash.  Some have money to burn: meanwhile the food banks struggle to meet the demand.