Geoff Allen - members' reflections

Geoff Allen was a man who enjoyed good humour and had an endless fund of tales to tell

Dave Wellings , a longstanding member of the V8 Register, posted a message on the V8BB "I was shocked to read tonight of Geoff's death. I have enjoyed his company on many occasions over the years and greatly valued his advice and knowledge which was gathered over the many years working at the Abingdon plant. I will miss his cheery greeting and his straw hat at Silverstone where he was a key component of the Register presence. A top man in every respect. My condolencies go to Jean, who also appeared to enjoy the MGV8 social scene as much as Geoff. He is irreplaceable". (12.6.06)

Gavin Bailey, the present V8 Secretary, added a posting on the V8BB "Geoff was a very genuine individual who always had time for you no matter who you were - new member or old hand. He will be sorely missed". (13.6.06)

Peter Beadle (a fellow founder member of the V8 Register and one of Geoff's longstanding friends) mentioned a tale Geoff related about the time Rectifications Department had a flood of Midgets coming off the production line with noisy differentials. So Geoff and his colleagues were put to changing them in Rectifications which involved overtime and weekend working - a welcome bonus! The diffs were then sent back to the manufacturer under warranty. But eventually the wily Geoff fathomed out what the problem was but the Rectifications team were in no hurry to see an end to the overtime work!

At that time there was a shortage of Dunlop tyres supplied to the MG Factory at Abingdon so the Midgets were coming off the line without a spare wheel fitted with a screwed clamp to the floor of the boot. The consequence was the metal diaphragm of the boot floor was acting as an amplifier to sounds coming from below, some of which were typical noises from the differential working in the usual way. As soon as the Dunlop tyres were available again the differentials in the Midgets leaving the line were once again as quiet as ever! (17.6.06)
Geoff Allen speaking at the V8 25th Anniversary Dinner at the BRDC in 2003 with Jean alongside. (Photo: Gavin Bailey)

Victor Smith recalls Geoff describing how as a boy he first saw an aeroplane before WW2 when some "barnstormers" landed at a fair being held near his home near Great Bedwyn in the Kennet valley. The excitement of a country boy seeing an aeroplane and hearing the sound of the engine as it took off and then performed aerobatics came across in Geoff's tale as though it had happened the day before. For some local villagers who took the opportunity to have a pleasure flight, it was their first experience of flight! The barnstormers were quite liberal with their displays so many of the novice passengers got quite a fright Geoff recalled!
(17.6.06)

Richard Martin, AWC Secretary, commented on the sad news. "I only met Geoff once, when he was guest speaker at the 2005 Works Centre dinner when he entertained us energetically and enthusiastically with his experiences - so much so that he sat down as though he'd finished and then stood up again a number of times as he thought of something else! It was a very enjoyable and entertaining evening which owed a lot to his contribution. Sadly another link to the Factory has gone". (19.6.06)