Tributes to leading light in the dale

TEESDALE has lost a leading light in the community following the death of former dentist George Jameson.

Mr Jameson died on May 4 after suffering a stroke and a short illness. Mr Jameson was born in Bishop Auckland in 1925, the third son of dental surgeon Andrew and Mary.
He grew up in Hamsterley where he would comment “I had a relative in practically every other house”, and went to Barnard Castle School as a boarder. At 16, Mr Jameson followed his eldest brother and gained a place at King’s College, part of Durham University, to study dentistry.
After leaving he signed up for the army, getting to travel abroad which was to be a passion for the rest of his life.
While in Cyprus he met Lt Margaret Bradley, a nursing sister in the Queen Alexandra Corps and when they return ed to England they married.
He set up a dental practice in Southend Avenue, Darlington, and specialised in children’s orthodontics.
Together with Margaret and their three children – Adam, Janet and Kate – they lived above the “shop”, although he took sabbaticals to work in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He practised dentistry in Darlington until retirement at 70.
While in Darlington, Mr Jameson began his lifelong interest in supporting others.
He joined the Rotary Club and became president, later transferring to the Barnard Castle branch, where in 2009 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honour for a Rotarian.
In the 1970s, Mr Jameson and his family moved to Ovington. The new space allowed him to follow his hobbies of fast cars, sailing and golf. Sadly, his wife died in 1978. But, as Mr Jameson said, he “struck gold again” marrying Dorothy and becoming stepfather to Katie and Paul. The family moved to Low Startforth Hall, where they spent 15 years. The house was a venue for charity events such as auctions, and large family parties at which Mr Jameson loved nothing better than to wear fancy dress. On retirement they moved to Old School Close, in Barnard Castle, and together they supported numerous community projects
Mrs Jameson saw the opening of a new Abbeyfield House, in Barnard Castle, undertaking printing, ticketing and fundraising activities.
He joined Probus, becoming chairman in 2008, was a church sidesman at St Mary’s Church, and a guide at The Bowes Museum. His great legacy for Teesdale was starting of the district’s branch of the U3A, becoming the founding chairman in 2007. Today there are more than 250 members. Mr Jameson was a member of the watercolour group, as well as the geology group.
He helped print tickets and programmes for the theatre and travel visits that were arranged by his wife. He is remembered by U3A for his generous smile and wicked sense of humour.
Ian Hodgson recalled that at the group’s first meeting George, with a twinkle in his eye, thanked the speaker for “the best talk that the society had ever had”.
George and Dorothy travelled on cruises to Alaska, Scandinavia, South America.
But as his son, Adam, says: “Dad always returned home saying that although he had seen the world there was nowhere like Teesdale”.
Mr Jameson is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Adam, Janet and Kate, stepchildren Katie and Paul, grandchildren Victoria, William, Catherine, Emilia, Lydia, Archie, Beatrice, Oliver, Sam, Jake and Issy, and great-grandson Lucas.