The obituary notice of Geoffrey COX

Geoff was my fathers best friend, but he was more than that. He was also a good friend of mine and of our family, the Tonges.

Geoff and my dad had been friends since we sold a dog to he and Gail over 30 odd years ago. Geoff was always there as we were growing up, sort of becoming an uncle like figure to me and my two sisters, Katie has already added her touching tribute here.

Geoff was always up for doing things be it going to motorcycle shows, going to watch the MotoGP in Assen with myself and my dad in 2018 or simply just coming over with his milkshake in hand to spend time with my dad.

He was someone who I considered a friend and a member of the family. He will be greatly missed by myself, both of my sisters, and my mother.

I wish I could have made it to the funeral today, but I'm sure that Geoff would understand 4000 miles is a bit far to travel at short notice.

I hope Geoff's celebration of life is as unique as he was.

Go well Geoff. You were loved by us and you will be sorely missed.

Adam Tonge

2/2

Geoff once said he thought “the moaning old sod would be there forever”. He also said my dad was always there when people needed him — and that mattered to Geoff, because he valued that kind of consistency. He valued people who showed up.

Geoff had lived, and he knew it. After Gail died, he said he could make sense of the loss by remembering he’d had 38 years with a fantastic human being — and that you’re lucky if life gives you that. That was Geoff. Honest about grief, but never blind to what he’d had.

He didn’t wear a mask. He was exactly who he was. Once you were in his life, you were in for good. He reminded us to remember the laughs and the good times — life is about the journey, not the destination!

Now his journey has ended, and it feels like losing another piece of my dad. Another link to the stories, the laughter, the loyalty, and the history. But I take comfort in believing they’ve found each other again. Two old mates. Still talking. Still arguing. Still on repeat.

Thank you, Geoff — for your friendship, your loyalty, and for being there when it mattered most.

You are deeply missed.

1/2

Geoff was my dad’s best friend.

Geoff once said my dad, Roger, was “the only bloke you could get on repeat mode” — the same story, told with exactly the same detail, every single time. Geoff had heard those stories millions of times, and he listened every time, because that’s who he was. Loyal. Present. There.

Their friendship was long, loyal, and properly tested by life. They were there for each other when things were good — and more importantly, when things were a mess. When my parents’ divorce was difficult, Geoff was there for my dad. He listened, steadied him, and helped him think things through — about life, about mistakes, about their children and grandchildren. He was someone my dad could talk to honestly, without judgement.

That loyalty went both ways. At my dad’s funeral, Geoff spoke about one of the nicest things anyone ever did for him, and it says everything about both of them. When Geoff’s wife Gail had a seizure and was kept in hospital, Geoff rang Rog to tell him what was happening. Geoff got home at about 10 at night, and there was Rog — sat outside in his car, waiting for him. Geoff didn’t ask. My dad didn’t offer. He just turned up when Geoff needed someone. That was their friendship. Quiet, solid, and real.

They shared years of adventures together — the kind you really could write a book about. Weeks in the south of France, staying with friends, somehow becoming part of the furniture. One year there was a party for the grape pickers that was meant to be winding down — until Rog and Geoff took over. The host went to bed at nine, the night carried on until the early hours, and when people said they had to leave at 4.45 in the morning, Rog and Geoff genuinely couldn’t understand why. They handed out jumpers from a washing line to keep people warm and made sure everyone had a good time. Those trips summed them up — generous, slightly chaotic, and completely unbothered by convention.

So sorry to hear you very sad news Jenni & Lianne. My sincere condolences to you both and all the family. John Johnson