The funeral of much-loved TV and film director Geoff Wonfor will take place in Newcastle on December 8 with a celebration of his life.
The service will be at city landmark Newcastle Cathedral and the date marks what would have been the Grammy Award-winner's 74th birthday. All those planning to attend are being asked to confirm their attendance to help with organising the service and, in lieu of flowers, there is an invitation instead to make donations to Newcastle West End Food Bank.
Since Geoff's death on November 21, tributes have been pouring in from those who forged long friendships and working relationships during his decades of working in the industry; a career which took in directing groundbreaking local music platform The Tube, the Band Aid video and Grammy Award-winning series The Beatles Anthology. Among those paying tribute were famous names including Eurythmics star Dave Stewart who called Geoff "a sensitive tornado".
Read more: 'A true legend and a lovely man': tributes to Geoff Wonfor
The Sunderland-born musician, songwriter and record producer, who with co-star Annie Lennox was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, now lives between homes in Nashville and the Caribbean. On hearing of Geoff's death he recalled their time working together and said: "Geoff was a unique character.
"I described him as a 'Sensitive Tornado': I worked with him on numerous occasions and each time he delivered beyond." He added of a live concert film they made in Sydney in 1987: "The Eurythmics Live film shot in Australia, directed by Geoff during our Revenge tour, captured both the power of our on-stage performance but also the sensitivity in some of the songs and the deep connection between Annie and myself.”
Geoff, who grew up in Newcastle ’s west end, had worked with many of the biggest names in music, including Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna and Stevie Wonder; having started out at Tyne Tees Television and moved on to the BBC where he met his wife, the late TV producer Andrea who is known for the likes of The Big Breakfast and Byker Grove as well as The Tube. Its presenter, the musician and presenter Jools Holland, became a life-long friend.
Local celebrities paying tribute included actress Denise Welch who referred to Geoff - father to daughters Abi and Sam and 'gramps' to grandchildren Fred, Georgie, Ami, Amba and Amaaya - as "a great father, an amazing grandfather and an incredible producer" as well as a legend and a great personal friend. Lindisfarne drummer and producer Ray Laidlaw called him “a big man in every way, a true innovator who changed how music was seen on TV. Most of all a dear friend who taught me so much”.
All three regularly worked together on Sunday for Sammy whose Trust chairman Tim Healy tweeted: "RIP Geoff my dear friend. Love you forever, you were a genius director, a soul mate and a joy to be with. I will cherish our Sunday for Sammy journey all my days, Sending my fondest love to all the family."
The service on Thursday, December 8 will start at Newcastle Cathedral at 10.45am. Friends planning to attend are asked to please email Geoff.WonforTheRoad@gmail.com to confirm attendance and a spokeswoman added: "For those kindly asking about floral tributes, Geoff’s family are asking instead that donations be made to Newcastle West End Food Bank."
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