Tribute to Geoff Pike

We have been shocked and saddened to lose our highly esteemed and much-loved Tai Chi teacher Geoff Pike who died on November 30th after a short illness.

Geoff introduced Tai Chi to Audlem and for more than three years his motor bike was a familiar sight outside the Scout and Guide Hall each Friday morning (yes that's where we were all heading).

Geoff was a quiet, kind, patient and unassuming man who was committed to improving lives through the gentle art of Tai Chi. He had a way of creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in which to practise exercises that challenged both the bodies and minds of all those who had the good fortune to stumble across his classes.

But – things are not always what they seem. This gentle man was just as capable of switching his Tai Chi set pieces into skilled Martial Art moves that could send bigger and stronger men than himself flying across a room in the name of self defence. It is perhaps fortunate that he was also a First Aid instructor.

Geoff was a qualified high school teacher who most recently was supporting young people in the Alternative Education provision at his school. An enthusiastic and competent sailor, Geoff served with the military forces and had links to both Army and Navy. He had great respect and admiration for the RNLI and he would occasionally recount times when he very nearly had to call on their services.

Geoff continued to study his craft, sometimes working with Grand Masters. He believed that you never stop learning and, judging by the number of silver heads in his classes, he was right. He certainly enjoyed teaching Tai Chi in one of the local Care Homes.

Thank you Geoff for making difficult things seem possible and for taking the time to help each one of us individually no matter how many people were in the room. You will be greatly missed.

If you would like to make a donation in Geoff's memory, Judy has kindly agreed that we can have a collection envelope at William's shop in the village until Christmas Eve.

Helen Lloyd ( Audlem Tai Chi Group)