Lives Remembered - George Guest
George Guest has recently become my chief ghost. He has "quit his shape" as they say. I first met George when he drove into Hebden Bridge, what 198?, in a beat up commer camper van. Reader, I bought it.
As an artist he was one of the few with whom I could enjoy grown-up conversations (Pete Miles was another) and I got a glimpse of what dedication meant.
As a man he cultivated sweetness and light tho on at least one of our trips somewhere or other I caught another side of the sturdy son of Rotherham - I suppose Claire must have been in the car.
Well, there you are, George has gone and a corner of my flying carpet begans to flap, wanting to be off.
From Matt Hilton
Saturday, 8 August 2020
From John Billingsley
Tuesday, 11 August 2020
Really sorry to hear this - when did we lose George? I'll really miss the chats here and there over the last couple of decades...
From Patricia Skeet
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Very sorry to hear that George has died. He was a great friend of my partner Max Howarth and I have a portrait of Max drawn by George on the wall. I also remember bumping into himself and Claire in Barcelona in the '80s. Their incredibly glamorous friends Enrique & Elena, their long nights playing poker, their kindness. Condolences.
From Diane Walkey
Friday, 18 September 2020
George was great company as well as being a painter extraordinaire. As I remember, he had sold an image to Athena early on in his career and this enabled him to make a living in the early days.
He was a true gentleman, and devoted to Claire. Claire’s line was that he was so considerate a lover that he kept his teeth in! I’m playing catch up here and though I am not entirely surprised, I am sorry to hear that he has gone.
I will remember him fondly, and very happy times spent together with him, the late and lovely writer and friend Arthur Callard, and with the one and only Matt Hilton....laughing a lot, arguing a lot and drinking a lot...mostly in The Albert.
From Martyn Frost
Sunday, 24 April 2022
Only just seen that George Guest has died. I first met him in the early 70s when we both lived in Milton under Wychwood. Always a gentleman and always good company.
Constant reminders are his paintings and prints both of the Cotswolds and around Hebden Bridge that are in my house. Sadly we lost touch after various house moves around the country.
Life was always improved by knowing George.
From Lance Olsen
Sunday, 11 December 2022
I live in Western Canada and was a dear friend of George during my youth. We both went to Camberwell School of Art and admired each other's work. I found out only today that he had passed since we lost contact about 15 years ago. Despite the distance of time and space, I always viewed George as one of my best friends. He came and visited me in Canada about 30 years back and that was the last time I saw him. Rest well dear friend, my heart is heavy but full from having known you.
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