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AN ENGINEER and designer of genius, Sir George Edwards OM was one of the most eminent men to become involved in Surrey and Guildford cricket.
He died aged 94 earlier this week, closing a varied life of huge achievement carried with modesty and humour.
Sir George, who lived in White Lane, Guildford, played a leading part in the development of jet aircraft, including the Valiant, Viscount and Concorde and was managing director of Vickers-Armstrong and the British Aircraft Corporation. He had been part of Barnes Wallis’s team which refined the Bouncing Bomb.
He first joined Vickers at Weybridge in 1935, when he also first appeared for Guildford where his leg-spin augmented a good attack.
He and the Bedser twins quickly became friends but the most famous moment of Sir George’s playing career came on August 1 1943 at Woodbridge Road, when he bowled the legendary Sir Learie Constantine for 11 while playing for the host club against a British Empire XI.
Coming in the midst of war, it was the biggest match in the country and attracted headlines in the national press.
On-field activities were soon limited by prolonged trips to the Pentagon but he became a leading figure at The Oval, offering friendship and wise counsel to players and committees, becoming president in 1979.
Surrey deputy president Derek Newton said: “Sir George was a huge figure in Surrey cricket. He was a cousin of Bill Gregory, who was a fine player, and pretty much grew up with the Bedsers.
He was a man of so many talents and there cannot be many people who have had a picture accepted by the Royal Academy at the age of 90.”
Charles Woodhouse, former president at Woodbridge Road, added: “He was easily the most distinguished member of Guildford, a truly great man.
He came from Essex and reckoned the pitches here were the very devil to bowl on.
Sir George felt that understanding the aerodynamics of leg-spin helped develop the bomb which inspired the Dambusters.
He told me there was no aerodynamic reason why the top-spinner should actually sit up and stop on a batsman.”
He was a terrific supporter of Guildford cricket and a father figure to the older generation at the club.
A private funeral will be held on Monday.
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