Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2012 | Page 91

COUNTRY LIFE

Geoffrey
Hughes:
a lovable,
popular
actor and
so sadly
missed
By Peter White
Geoffrey at home pictured with his flock of sheep in 2006

Geoffrey Hughes, who died recently
on the Island aged 68, was regarded
by millions as one of the most popular
and best-loved comedy actors of his
generation.
But to many Islanders, Geoffrey
was known not only for his role in
a host of TV programmes including
Coronation Street, Keeping Up
Appearances and The Royle Family,
but as an environmentalist who cared
passionately about the countryside.
Some six years ago Geoffrey and
his wife Susan, along with woodland
conservationist Danny Horne and tree
surgeon Nigel Earley, jointly founded
Wood End Enterprises, a wood chip
supply business.
It was based at Geoff and Susan’s
home near Newport, with the aim
of regenerating their 23 acres of
woodland and harvest the otherwise
useless timber as fuel for eco-friendly
biomass boilers. As well as producing
woodchips for biomass boilers, Wood
End Enterprises also sell kindling and

mulch and offers services including
tree surgery, stump removal and wood
milling.
In his celebrity role, Geoffrey
engaged himself in many events
and social occasions on the Island,
including Wolverton Manor, the
Gilten Market and opening Christmas
light shows on private houses for
charity. His warm, friendly attitude
and his easy-going nature made him
a firm favourite among Islanders, and
he was a big supporter of the Earl
Mountbatten Hospice.
Geoffrey sprang to fame in the 1970s
and 80s as lovable binman Eddie
Yeats in Coronation Street. He later
starred as Onslow in Keeping Up
Appearances; was Twiggy in the Royle
Family, and also starred in Heartbeat.
He was diagnosed with cancer five
years ago, and despite a brave fight he
died peacefully in his sleep in late July.
Tributes poured in for Geoffrey,
including one from Ricky Tomlinson,
who played alongside him in The

Royle Family. Ricky said: “Geoff
wasn’t just an actor