Unfortunately, and extremely sadly, at the age of 73, George Edwards passed away around lunchtime on 6 November 2012. Following a long battle with cancer, George died peacefully with his wife Jean at his bedside.

George coached Wigan Judo Club for 21 years from 1971 until 1992, at which point he was made Honorary President of the club. For decades George was one of the most familiar faces at the mat-side in competitions all over Great Britain.

George coached a multitude of junior and senior county, area, national, and European medalists and champions. Throughout his career George was renowned for his combination of strict discipline, canny humour, and generosity. As a man to whom many of us could turn in difficult times, George always wore his achievements and attributes extremely lightly and entertained visitors right up until the end with tales of his adventures with the Merchant Navy, his lifelong love of jazz, the successes and failures of Everton Football Club, and, of course, his life in judo and the judo world in general. George will be very sadly missed by us all, and our thoughts are with his family.

George Edwards’s funeral will take place at 1pm on Wednesday 14 November, at St Helens Crematorium, Rainford Road, Windle, St Helens, WA10 6DF.

A reception will then take place at St. Mary’s Social Club, Trent Road, Billinge, WN5 7QT.

George has requested that those in attendance should wear coloured clothing to celebrate his life.

It is also requested that instead of flowers, donations should be made to F. W. Marsh Funeral Directors, 55 Main Street Billinge, WN5 7HA, 01744 982260.  Proceeds will be in aid of the Lilac Centre Cancer Unit at St. Helens Hospital.