Sidmouth remembers colourful Morris man Geoff

Sidmouth festival supporter for 37 years dies following road traffic accident

A COLOURFUL character, who has supported Sidmouth Folk festival for 37 years, has died after being involved in a road traffic accident.

Norman Geoffrey Hebditch, 64, died on Friday, November 11, from injuries he sustained in a road accident in Hampshire.

He had been riding his tricycle the previous Sunday when he was involved in a collision with a motorcycle, said his partner of 15 years, Mary Reed.

Although he lived in Catisfield near Fareham, Hants, Geoff visited Sidmouth several times a year with Mary and was well known in the town, both to supporters of FolkWeek, and to shopkeepers and hoteliers.

“In the ‘60s he used to be a Morris dancer and fool with King John’s Morris, Winchester,” said Mary. “He spent a lot of time talking to people in Sidmouth as well as musicians, dancers and singers.”

Sidmouth Herald’s photographer, Alex Walton, captured Geoff in his colourful outfit at this year’s FolkWeek.

Mary said: “Apart from Morris, Geoff did lots of other things. He enjoyed motor racing, railway modelling, was a civil engineer and was cycling officer in Portsmouth until he retired through ill health.

“He enjoyed talking to people and managed to get the best out of them.”

His funeral is at 11.30am on Thursday, November 24 at St Peter’s Church, Titchfield, Hants and after at The Bugle, Titchfield Square. Donations for RNLI or British Heart Foundation to Freemantles, 46 South St, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants. PO14 4DY.