ONE of the country's oldest broadcasters, a cornet player and a decorated veteran of the Second World War has died suddenly at home – just hours before he was due to co-present one of his regular shows.
George Adey, who lived in Pilgrims Hatch, was best known for his cornet playing and the Phoenix 98 FM programme George's World, which he presented every two weeks.
But a previous life which 94-year-old Mr Adey rarely spoke about was his exploits with the 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment during the Second World War.
When he did speak about his time during the war he often told his friend Nathan Ware, whom he met frequently at Trinity Church, where they were both members.
The pair also saw each other at Thundersley Brass Band, where Mr Adey had started playing shortly after the death of his wife of 66 years, Violet, in 2007.
Mr Ware, who lives in Brentwood, said: "We became friends after his wife died and he had some amazing stories.
"George lost several colleagues during the fierce and bloody battle of Monte Cassino in 1944."
However, things were worse for George in this particularly bloody battle for control of a key hilltop fortification in Italy. George was part of the 78th Infantry Division that had fought hard up through the country to dislodge the Germans.
At Monte Cassino he lost the largest number of his close friends in a single day's action of the entire war.
Mr Ware takes up the story again. "He also came close to death during a reconnaissance patrol in France.
"The squad heard German voices on the other side of a hedge.
"George was on the right flank and he told me how his captain told him to crawl round to see what was going on.
"He did that but as he went round the corner one of the German troops saw him and shot at him with the bullet just clipping his helmet.
"At that point the rest of his squad opened up and killed everyone of them.
"When he saw all those dead Germans he told me how he was struck at just how young they were.
"That stuck with him for a long time."
Mr Ware continued: "He also remembers when the bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and although it was an horrific thing and they caused many deaths he was personally relieved the thing was over – he was die to be mobilised to fight in the Far East.
"He was just very thankful he didn't have to."
George co-hosted a show with Michelle Ward every two weeks and was due to host his show on Wednesday.
Ms Ward said: "He was always very fit, he just passed away in his chair.
"His death just came out of the blue."
His other joy was the Thundersley Brass Band which he joined to occupy his spare time after the death of Violet. He was even asked to play a concert solo in front of 500-strong crowd.
It was a huge moment for the former BT engineer, considering his age – the next eldest was in their 60s.
He had been a member of Romford Borough Band for 45 years but decided to quit to care for his wife, who had been suffering from severe arthritis.
Mr Adey learnt to play the cornet as a youngster in The Salvation Army and during his time with the Merchant Navy in the United States.
He even played with the esteemed New York Staff Band.
Ms Ward added: "He was very outgoing, a lot of fun and a great character.
"One moment which stands out was when we were doing the charity haircut event at the Sugar Hut.
"George had had a few too many drinks and tripped over, crashing into the PA system.
"We'll all miss him."
