Donkey author dies
Thursday 22nd April 2010, 10:30AM BST.
LOCAL character and author George Torode, pictured, has died.
Mr Torode, 63, was best known for his series of Donkey books and being on BBC Guernsey with Fred Hewlett on Friday afternoons.
Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland yesterday paid tribute to Mr Torode and said he had been the ‘life and soul’ of any radio programme. ‘He was a renowned raconteur, stand-up comedian and author, recollecting and portraying Guernsey life as it was and is. In a witty and generous way, he enhanced our love of our island and its people.
‘Guernsey has produced some characters over the years, whom we remember with great affection. George will now rank as one of them and like them he will live on in our memory.’
- Click here to read an interview with George, published in 2008.
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The island will be all the poorer for his abscence. Now he`s with the Lord he loved and proclaimed.
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Rest In Peace George. Many very happy memories of you from the Pilgrims at Fort Richmond – lots of laughs, great jam sessions and good times. You were one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
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The Bailiff pretty well summed up most islanders feelings. George’s legacy will be his authorship and tomes of social history.
RIP pal
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George was one of Guernsey’s national treasures, I was so troubled yesterday when I learned of his death that I found it difficult to get through the rest of the day, it has had a profound effect on me as I suspect it has on many others, such a big part of our lives was he. His books will remind us all of his humour for years to come. And the CD’s of the BBC radio shows will I am sure become treasured memories for many. Our respect and condolences go out to George’s wife and family and I think Dave Gallienne has summed George up for me and many others, he was without doubt one of the nicest blokes I ever had the privilege of knowing. Rest in Peace my friend.
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Nicely put slep sympathies to Georges family too.
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I never met George but have all the donkey books and loved every one of them, George, John and Fred on a Friday afternoon was the highlight of my week.
Never a dull moment on that show.
my condolences go to his family.
God bless you George.XX
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I remember you from the time you worked at Iron Stores and for Amalgamated Engineers; we shared many jokes and laughs. You were a special kind of a bloke long before you went into print.
RIP George, Guernsey is a poorer place without you.
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Guernsey has lost a national treasure. Good bye George, you will be sadly missed.
Fran
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I had the privilege of knowing George and he visited Kathryn and I at our home on many an evening when his love of rock and roll was played into the wee small hours…George with his diet coke and me with my whiskey….never once did George try and introduce religion into our conversation…George just did not need to talk about goodness and belief..he epitomised it and was indeed one of the warmest and nicest people I ever met in Guernsey, or anywhere else for that matter.
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Radio Guernsey
Do us a great favour and put on repeats of his Friday afternoon shows for a few weeks
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I was lucky to know George, what a great guy.
So many memories from the old Iron Stores days.
George maybe gone but his memory will live forever.
Sincere condolences to Georges family.
Neville in Nottingham
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Why don’t we write a book about George?
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A great loss, George will undoubtedly be sorely missed. I wasn’t lucky enough to have met him or to have listened to all of his shows as sadly they were on air whilst I was at work. I did read his books though and George did a marvellous thing in putting island life into print.
My thoughts are with George’s family.
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Well; you have all said such kind words about ‘OUR’ George.
Yet although stalwart Guernsey man; his worth was more than that,
He was a very Human kind of man, he just liked people;
His greatest moment is now; (many may not agree) but the Lord also must have liked him, for he has called for him.
So George Now rest in knowledge that we miss you;
And to his family; Well you know, and knew of his worth; do not despair, he is in safe hands.
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Stunned and shocked to hear this news. R.I.P. George. I will miss you. Jenny.x My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
“When the roll is called up yonder, we’ll be there.”
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George will be missed by all who read his donkey books and all who listened to him on bbc guernsey
a true guernsey man very much thought of gentleman R.I.P
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What a shock, a light has gone out, a great loss to the human race, George was as good a human being as ever there will ever be.
His company was always a pleasure, to think I will never see him again, hear his wicked laugh.
I was very privileged to know him, my deepest sympathies to his family .
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r.i.p true guernsey guy
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Thank you George, for all the laughs and tears through out the times we sheared, R.I.P. good friend. “Earths loss-Heavens gain”
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My name is Colin Kitchenham and I first met George when we both worked at Leale Ltd in the early 60′s. When he left Leale’s, we lost close touch, though we both remained in Guernsey. I left Guernsey in 1970 to go to Australia where I still remain. In the late 90s of the last century, to both George and my surprise, we were reunited through a mutual friend of ours, and we remained writing periodically to each other, not only as reunited good friends, but now, we had a much closer relationship, in that we discovered that we had both become ‘Born-again Believers (Christians) in Jesus’ in the mid to late 70.s. Guernsey has indeed lost a well loved Son of the Island, and Chris and his daughters and family, a very dearly loved one also. My regards and love in memory of George, I extend to them!
Colin Kitchenham
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We have known George a good many years and we were heart broken and saddened at our loss of a really great man.. He kept us happy and smiling when we were going through a tough time with illness in our family from ’98 onwards. We shall miss him on his walks around Petit Port cliffs, he would stop off for a chat and perhaps a glass of orange. Sometimes we would just see him sitting in his car by the monument reading and enjoying the peace.
We shall all miss him so dearly.
God bless you George.
With much love to Christine and family.
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Very sad to hear of your passing George. You will be missed by everyone I know.
God bless you.
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George
I am away for six weeks and come home the news your moved on to heaven where you will have to chat to those you kindly gave us the
tales of their lives , can can , news paper boy , ect.
God only takes the good the Devil gets the rest.
We knew each other for most of our lives ,even shared the the demon barber.
God Bless
Mike de Carteret
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Sad loss for GUERNSEY you will be missed by all
GEORGE proud to have known you R.I.P
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Rest in Peace mate, you will be forever in my thoughts especially on our next trip to eastern Europe, Guernsey has lost a real gem.
God Bless
Gary, Sue & Jacob
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To Christine and Family: Psalm 121 Should be of comfort; on both sides of the River Jordan; it is written… “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” Rev Ch.14 v.13.
Friday not the same anymore!
Wes… Alderney.
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