A FATHER-of-11 from York who had 32 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren has died aged 76.

Geoff Pallister, of Burton Stone Lane, was a well-known local plasterer who had a 35-year association with the Crescent Working Men’s Club.

He was born in Poppleton Road and went to Scarcroft School where he excelled at swimming and swam for the school in competitions.

Geoff grew up during the war and some of his wartime remembrances were published in a book called Home Front Yorkshire 1939-45, by Len Markham.

He remembered moving from Nunthorpe Road with his mum and the family after bombing raids in York to join his father at Spurn Point where he was stationed.

After leaving school, Geoff worked for many years as a plasterer, deviating from his profession briefly when Edmund Wilson swimming baths opened to serve as a life guard at the pool for two years.

As a young man Geoff completed his National Service in the medical corps and served at the army hospital in Fulford.

He was a member of St John’s Ambulance at Clifton and drum major for the St John’s Ambulance band when he was 16 or 17, and that is how he met his future wife, Jean, who was a member of St John’s at Acomb.

Geoff’s son, Philip, said: “When my mum first saw dad outside the Minster she said to herself “he’s the one for me”, but dad marched off arm-in-arm with another girl! She was jealous, but got her chance to see him a short while later when they met at a fish and chip shop on Blossom Street and they started to see each other after that.”

It was the start of a long and happy relationship and the couple married in 1951.

They went on to have 11 children – Ann, Alan, Chris, Lynne, twins – Carole and Pat, Paul, Philip, Elaine, Kevin and Geoffrey.

Geoff was a real family man and the family grew in size to its present proportions which mean that for their annual family Christmas party they have to hire out the local church hall.

Geoff retired, aged 55, and indulged a hobby for making miniature dolls houses complete with furniture.

Jean and Geoff enjoyed many happy holidays together going to Guernsey more than 30 times in just 25 years – sometimes they went twice a year.