Geoffrey Hayes of Manor Brow, Keswick, died on February 28 aged 89 after a short illness at home.
He settled in Keswick with his wife Freda and two daughters in the late sixties, working as an art teacher in Carlisle before having the good fortune to be offered early retirement at 50.
He fully embraced his retirement working harder than he did as a teacher – fell walking, travelling, painting, swimming, playing music and enjoying his favourite activity – acting!
While he never had the chance to be a professional actor he performed in an amateur capacity in countless plays for more than 40 years for Keswick Theatre Club, having joined in 1977, often playing lead in many of them and was one of their most treasured performers. He was made club president on its 60th anniversary.
A letter uncovered after his death wrote inviting him to be a patron of the club saying: “You are the most talented and accomplished performer the club has ever had.”
His most recent and sadly last performance two years ago, was in the play The Weekend, by Michael Palin, which was played with his usual deadpan wit and comic timing. If he asked you to go see him perform, you’d better do it as it was always worth watching. His wife Freda, whom he met when they both studied art at Barrow College of Art and who outlives him, was also a frequent member of the club, acting, then designing and making sets and props as well as costumes. They both really loved the whole process.
Visiting Brighton in the late 90s, Geoff was by chance introduced to the late actor Tom Bell who he admired. Geoff proceeded to pull out a copy of The Odd Couple by Neil Simon, which he happened to be learning at the time. It was a real treat listening to Geoff’s perfect Brooklyn accent and Tom’s northern twang and they read together for about half an hour. He was certainly an equal to Tom and was in his element!
Geoff was also an ardent supporter of the Keswick Film Festival and would spend a whole weekend watching as many films as he could stay up for.
He learned to play the tenor saxophone at 50, having been a jazz fan all his life and performed in many gigs around Cumbria well into his 80s.
Music, the arts, drama and being inspired by the lakes and mountains were what maintained his zest for life. His six grandchildren kept him entertained in between!
Keswick Theatre Club has lost its star player, his family and friends have lost a loyal, intriguing and witty man, a lover of the absurdities of life, who provided a quiet but ever loving presence.
