‘Inspirational’ PE teacher mourned (From York Press)

Fromer PE teacher George Charlson dies aged 80

7:46am Monday 14th January 2013 in News By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

A FORMER York physical education teacher who inspired hundreds of students in the city, has died after a long illness.

George Charlson, who was 80 when he died, was born and raised in Chorley, Lancashire. He married his wife, Joan, in 1956 and the couple moved to York when Mr Charlson began teaching physical education at the then York St John College, now York St John University.

He continued to work at York St John for 30 years, teaching hundreds of students during that time. For the last ten years of his working life he headed the college’s PE department before he retired in 1990.

The couple lived in Heslington Lane, Fulford, where Mr Charlson was a prominent member of the golf club from 1968 until he retired from the sport in 2007.

Mrs Charlson said her husband died on December 29, having suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for the last nine years of his life.

She said: “George knew a lot of people through his work and his time at Fulford Golf Club. He has been described to me as a gentle man, always smiling.

“He was a very caring man, who loved his job and loved working with young people.

“We have had a card from two of his former students who said he was an inspiration to them and judging on the number of cards we have had, he will be much missed.”

As well as being on the green committee at Fulford Golf Club, in his spare time Mr Charlson enjoyed bird-watching and walking.

After his retirement Mr Charlson was a guide at York Minster for 18 years. The couple’s son, Tim, works for the Churches Conservation Trust in York and is married to Lesley.

Mr Charlson had three grandchildren; Sally, 22, Alice, 18, and 17-month-old Gabriel.

A funeral service will be held at St Oswald’s Church, Fulford, on Saturday, January 19, at 11.30am, followed by private family committal service at York Crematorium. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Society are requested in lieu of flowers.