Chartered surveyor;
born February 8, 1917; died August 15, 2006.
GEORGE Porteous Gerrard, who has died peacefully in Inverclyde Hospital, was born in February 1917.
He was the elder son of Andrew and Helen Gerrard. His younger brother Robert was lost at sea in 1943 when serving as the chief radio officer on the SS Harperley.
George's parents were members of Greenock's East Congregational Church, where his grandfather had been minister. He was educated at Grosvenor Prep school, then Holmscroft Primary, before being enrolled in Greenock High.
George was a member of Greenock's 5th BB company and represented it at the International Jubilee Camp at Dechmont in 1933. His badminton prowess made him an assured Greenock High School FP player.
He commenced his apprenticeship with A M Wilson, a quantity surveyor in the town's then library buildings. This firm would eventually become Wilson and Fyfe.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, George endeavoured to enlist in the Royal Navy, but his offer was declined - surveying qualifications not being a priority in the senior service. So he awaited being conscripted to the Royal Artillery which exploited his surveying talents.
This was in March 1940, and after a six-week circuitous voyage to Durban he served in Egypt and subsequently Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Persia as it then was, before, as a sergeant surveyor (RA) first class, he was posted to Burma in March, 1942.
After demobilisation, he qualified as a chartered surveyor and was offered a partnership in the firm subsequently known as Fyfe, Gerrard and Paton, with offices in Greenock and Glasgow, which established a reputation for excellence and a national clientele.
As a member of Nelson Street Congregational Church, as it was prior to becoming Nelson Street United Reformed Church, he served in every lay capacity: Sunday school superintendent, elder, building convener, session clerk, church secretary and gave free counsel to the wider church in Scotland where his surveying skills were often sought.
When a hospice for his town was mooted, he became one of its enthusiastic initiators and what is now affectionately known as Greenock's Ardgowan Hospice was created. His property convenership was such that his successor, perhaps not too jokingly, thought the role was remunerated and surely full-time.
Even in his nineties, he insisted on being computer literate and found time to be challenged by Sudoku.
In his spare time he had chaired the board of Greenock Provident Bank, where his integrity and business acumen were appreciated.
Gourock Rotary Club also recognised his fulfilment of "service before self" by awarding him its Paul Harris Fellowship, an accolade rarely handed out.
Apopular member of Gourock Golf Club, he was more of a Tom Watson than a TigerWoods in temperament. He was also a skilled yachtsman with his wife, Irene, frequently serving as first mate.
George's church has amalgamated, but was opened specially for the pre-cremation memorial service last Saturday. The attendance at both services bore testimony to the affection and respect he had earned.
A devoted family man, he is survived by a son, Andrew, daughter Rhona, daughterin-law Alison, son-in-law Steven and five grandchildren, Victoria, Kathryn, Jennifer, Craig and Caitlin.
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