My friend and colleague George Bingham, who has died aged 76, was a pioneer of chemical solvent recycling, a long-time school governor and founding trustee of Emmaus Hastings and Rother, a charity community for the homeless.
Born in Liverpool, he was the son of George, a dockyard engineer, and Sally, who was in service. They were immensely proud when George gained a scholarship to Merchant Taylors’ school, Crosby, and a degree in electrical engineering from Sheffield University. After starting a solvent recycling business in the north-west, George moved to East Sussex in 1984 with his second wife, Lynne, to become managing director of the chemical company Gelpke & Bate at Rye Harbour.
George led a management buyout, renamed the company CMR and oversaw its growth into an international player in the field of solvent recovery. He he became chairman of the UK Chemical Recycling Association and president of the European Solvent Recycler Group.
Family and friends remember him as someone who brought people together, both in business and in his voluntary life. As the head of CMR, George had a commitment to improving the prospects of young people in Rye and in 1992 became a governor of Thomas Peacocke community college (now Rye college). He became chair of the governing body and remained a governor until 2010.
In recent years his passion was the charity Emmaus Hastings and Rother. Its communities provide homeless people with somewhere to live, work in its social enterprises and the necessary support to help them rebuild their lives.
The Hastings and Rother community opened in 2011 and has room for 23 residents. George was central to bringing this about, taking a broad view of the role of a trustee – he was often to be found with a spanner or screwdriver rather than in meetings. His commitment to disadvantaged people gained him universal respect and affection.
George was a lifelong supporter of Everton FC and a member of the Labour party, standing as candidate for Blackpool North in the 1966 general election coming a good second in a safe Tory seat. Conversation with George, often in his local, the Horse & Groom, St Leonards, would cover a staggering range of subjects; always well-informed, frequently hilarious and never boring.
He is survived by Lynne; by three children, Ewan, Jane and Sarah, from his first marriage, to Jill, which ended in divorce; a stepdaughter, Leonie; and seven grandchildren.
