A service of thanksgiving was held on Friday 27th October at the church in Geoffrey’s home village. The mourners include falconers from both the UK and the USA, with representatives from the BFC, IAF, Hawk Board, NAFA and the American Archives of Falconry being present at the service. The numbers were further swelled by family, friends and local villagers.

Geoffrey’s long time friend, Kent Carnie, gave a personal tribute to the life of Geoffrey, sharing with those of us present, memories of the times that they had spent together.
After the service, we returned to the family home to celebrate his life by sharing stories and anecdotes of the times we had been hawking, or just talking with Geoffrey and his family.

Whilst admiring some of the family (hawking) photos that were present in every room of the house, I found, tucked away in the corner of a shelf near “Geoffrey’s” chair, a copy of Helen Macdonald’s little book, “The Falcon”, a folded page corner indicating the point he had reached in reading it. I thought it poignant, that possibly, Geoffrey had been reading it not long before he passed away.

Geoffrey’s passing takes from us another “old master”, he will be missed by many and remembered by many more.