Death of community champion Geoff Prince

THE death has occurred of Geoff Prince, founder of Frodsham’s Will to Work Workshop and one of the town’s best known voluntary workers.
Geoff, who set up the occupational therapy workshop for disabled people about 14 years ago, died in hospital after a short illness. He was 65.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours list in January 2013 for his voluntary work for the community.
Geoff started Will to Work after he suffered encephalitis, an acute inflammation of the brain, which left him unable to continue his former trade as a builder.
After finding the occupational therapy sessions he attended at Liverpool’s Walton Centre beneficial to his recovery, he decided to set up a charity to continue this type of support for when people leave hospital care.
He also underwent a kidney transplant after four years on dialysis.
The workshop – near Frodsham Leisure Centre – specialises in making and repairing items such as benches, garden and household furniture, dolls houses and bird tables.
But members have also refurbished bar stools and tables for local pubs. Other activities include pottery, wood turning and refurbishing old bicycles.
But they also produce replica rocking horses based on those made by the Collinson Rocking Horse Company, of Liverpool, who supplied rocking horses to Queen Victoria and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
The workshop has about 40 members, men and women, and is run entirely by volunteers.
Brian Lloyd, a close friend of Geoff’s and a former chairman of Frodsham Town Council, said: “Geoff was a wonderful man and will be a hard act to follow.”
The funeral is to take place at St Laurence Church, Frodsham, on Thursday August 27 at 12.30pm

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