Godfrey Sturgeon 1926 – 2020

We are very sorry to tell you that Godfrey Sturgeon has died at 93 of old age. He joined the club in 1969 and became an honorary life member having served on the committee for 23 years until 2005. The club meant a lot to him and he was pleased to produce his “Norfolk Notes” for the Steam Plough Times setting out the coming and goings from his home county. With his wife Barbara they were always willing to help in every club activity sometimes a long way from home.

Godfrey was born at Aldham in Suffolk in 1926. He was an only child. His father was a steam plough contractor in Suffolk and when, in 1931 Godfrey was still a child, the steam engines were sold they moved to Pear Tree Farm at Hinderclay where his father farmed.  The farm prospered during the Second World War, and after the war they moved in 1948 to a bigger farm, at Grange Farm Tibenham.

In 1951 he married Barbara, whose family had earlier owned the farm, and she was able to move back into the house in which she had been born. Godfrey worked the farm with his father, and later with his son Philip.

Godfrey had a lifelong fascination for steam engines and particularly steam ploughing. He spent much of his spare time attending rallies across East Anglia and the south of England, meeting his friends. He was for many years a Church Warden of Tibenham Church, and enjoyed social events such as scoring for the W.I. Ladies Darts Team. At home he would be found looking through his traction engine books or making a big fuss of all his farm cats of which he was so fond.

He was a kind and gentle man and he will be very much missed by his family and those who remember him in the Steam Plough Club.  Barbara died two years ago but he is survived by his son Philip, daughter Margaret, and two grand children.

Godfrey Sturgeon, farmer and SPC member for 51 years, died 21 August 2020.