CCFC & The Sky Blue Family Says Farewell To The ‘Iron Man’ In Coventry Cathedral

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After the Sky Blues Championship opener (once more back in Coventry) last Sunday was designated a tribute game where our recently departed long time Sky Blue hero George Curtis was remembered by club and fans yesterday was the day when the Sky Blue family paid their final respects to ‘the Iron Man’ at his funeral ceremony at Coventry Cathedral.

Just as the current Sky Blues ‘played a blinder’ for George on the pitch staging a late charge to pip Nottingham Forest for all three points on Sunday, the Cathedral funeral provided the big man with a wonderful farewell from the congregation inside as well as lots of Sky Blue fans outside who gave a tremendous applause to the coffin as it passed them borne by members of George’s family up the steps and then down the ailse of the Cathedral! The BBC’s brief film of the arrival of the cortege can be seen by clicking on the picture below:-

The coffin of George Curtis arrives

The Association were proud to assist Big George’s family to make arrangement for many of George’s footballing colleagues who played with and under him at CCFC to attend the ceremony (and the ‘wake’ which followed after the private cremation ceremony). The Association’s Sarah Morris and Billy Bell played an important part here.  There were more than thirty (*see below) of our Sky Blue Former Player members in attendance (covering the 1960s-80s) as well as many other guests of George’s big family drawn from CCFC staff, the the wider world of football and friends from both far and wide.

The solemn and emotional ceremony, led by the Rev. Canon Kathryn Fleming, was nevertheless uplifting as the hymns and songs and speeches reflected on George’s immense contribution to both club and City in all his roles with the Sky Blues. Particularly moving were the personal tributes paid to George (and his wife Inger) by their grandchildren Leanne, Danielle and Abbie and son Kevin. The excellent eulogy came from local media personality Stuart Linnell which brilliantly and succinctly encapsulated all the facets of George’s very full life.

The ceremony ended with a poignant rendering of the Sky Blues Song as George’s coffin left the cathedral for its final journey to Canley Crematorium. As the guest filed out of the Cathedral there was a further opportunity to mingle and remember the great man particularly in the eyes of all Coventry folk. We offer some photos here of the scene outside and some of the Sky Blue personalities talking after the ceremony was completed.

Oggie & Joe Elliott with John Williams in the background

Brian Kilcline being interviewed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Smith

We are fairly sure the following former Sky Blues (all of whom are CCFPA members) from across the playing generations came back to Coventry to honour George.

Dave Bennett , Blair Andy, Jeff Blockley, Jim Blyth, Dietmar Bruck, Brian Borrows, Dave Buust, Chris Cattlin,  Howard Clark, Mick Coop, Greg Downs, Dean Emerson, Ron Farmer, Terry Gibson, Ian Goodwin, Micky Gynn, Marcus Hall, Keith Houchen, Brian Kilcline, Lloyd McGrath, Gordon Milne, Steve Ogrizovic,  Trevor Peake, David Phillips, Nick Pickering, Barry Powell, Graham Rodger, Steve Sedgley, John Sillett, David Smith, Kevan Smith, David Speedie, Graham Walker, Bob Wesson and John Williams.

Many of these FPs including a good representation from George and John’s ‘Boys of 87’  joined the family’s other guests at the Village Hotel in Coventry for refreshments following the private cremation and we hope to bring you photos from this gathering tomorrow!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young and Richard Morris for vast majority of the photos

 

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