Underlines marks the sad passing of Arthur Gerald Burgess (or Gerry as everyone knew him). Peter Burgess remembers him here.
Gerry on a ‘road trip’ in Cumbria
Arthur Gerald Burgess or Gerry as he was known in the industry sadly passed away on Sunday 19th February at Lady of the Vale Nursing home with his wife Bessie, son Peter and soon to be daughter in law Karen by his side. He passed peacefully being told how much he was loved by everyone aged 82.
Gerry will be remembered as a positive person always with a big smile on his face. He worked in fashion all his life starting at Tootals Broadhurst Lee as a Trainee Manager in 1960 which is where he met Bessie who worked in the distribution office. Ignoring instructions not to hold hands in sight of the factory their love blossomed and they were married in 1965 and had two sons Richard and Peter.
In the early 1980s Gunning Ltd was formed and Gerry took the company in the direction of lingerie, nightwear and underwear and started working relationships with brands such as Hugo Boss, Lise Charmel, Regence and Falke. He was later joined by me in 1997. We enjoyed over 20 years of working together, many Harrogate shows where Dad was in his element chatting all day to customers to such an extent he earned the nickname in the family of Zippy.
He also enjoyed travelling all over Europe for meetings and shows in Paris, Koln and Lyon, which would always be diverted somehow to a vineyard to pick up the odd bottle or 12, another passion of Dad’s – wine! Sport especially football, cricket and rugby were his other loves outside of the family, he had also played rugby to a high standard back in the 1960’s, stories of scrummaging against the Scottish first XV in practice some of his favourites.
Unfortunately Gerry had to take early retirement in 2019 due to a sudden illness, in which he defied the doctors’ expectations and survived. Dad’s health was never to be the same after that but he still enjoyed life and was determined to make a full recovery right to the end. I am very proud to be carrying on the Gunning Ltd name in his memory.
Peter Burgess
R.I.P.
