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George Soulsby.
It is with great sadness that I write to inform
you of the death of club member George Soulsby (62) who passed away in his sleep on 28th February 2004 following a short but
spirited fight against cancer. George joined the xr owners club in 1997 but had owned his immaculate and tastefully modified
Cardinal Red Sierra XR4i, GAS 60X, since February 1990.
From the age of 10, George always wanted to be a driver. His wife Ann fondly remembers that his very first steering
wheel was an old bike wheel without a tyre. So strong was this urge to drive that George made a career of driving for the
local council in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne up until his retirement in 1987.
George was a Ford man through and through and never owned any other make of car. Even during his 10 years of
stock car racing where he was always in the top ten of his class, it had to be Ford. In fact his very first stock car was
an old Ford Pop. Sadly as the cost of racing increased and with a young family to look after, George had to give it up and
he and Ann resorted to spectating with their two young children George Jnr. and Debra. Always a follower of all types of motor
sport, it was George's dream to go to Daytona, USA to watch the Daytona 500. This dream was realised on his 60th
birthday in a very novel way. Throughout the day George's grand children had been urging him to burst his big birthday balloon
and always one for a bit of fun, George eventually obliged them and out popped two tickets to Daytona for the 500. Next day
he was on the plane and on his way!
Always a keen supporter of the club, George along with Ann (and of course GAS 60X) were very successful participants
in club concours having won the XR4i Modified Class on a number of occasions. Anyone who has seen the attention to detail
that had been put into his beloved XR4i will understand why George planned his own funeral. It had to be "just so" and with
a horsepower theme. The cortege was a glass carriage drawn by two horses with floral tributes in the shape and colour of his
car as well as his registration number. This was followed by his car which was driven by his very close friend and fellow
club member Peter Carey.
I am sure that all of you who knew George
will remember him with great fondness and join with me in sending our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to his wife
Ann, children George Jnr and Debra and of course grand children Daniel, Lee & Dale and great grand children Alicia and
Holly.
He will be sadly missed.
Please Leave Your Messages Of Condolence In The XROC Guest Book
Thank You.
"Copyright John Harrison & XR Owners Club 2004"
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