THE funeral of a man who helped shape the ‘spirit’ of the Maurice Dobson Museum was held this week.
Geoffrey Hutchinson died on January 23 aged 88 and has been described as a ‘true gentleman’.
Before he retired Geoffrey was a headteacher in Cudworth as well as being chairman of the Darfield Amenity Society.
He secured the first National Lottery Heritage Fund for South Yorkshire along with a small group of volunteers which led to the opening of the Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre in 2000.
He became the first chairman of the museum and was at the unveiling of a blue plaque for the site last year.
Coun Kevin Osborne, who represents the Darfield ward, said: “Geoffrey wasn’t just the first chairman of the Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre - he was one of the people who helped shape its spirit.
“His love for the village, our history, and the people who make this place what it is will be felt for generations.
“I was proud to stand alongside Darfield Museum volunteers as Geoff’s funeral cortège passed by the museum he cared for so deeply.
“It was a quiet, heartfelt moment of gratitude for everything he gave.
“Rest easy, Geoff.
“Thank you for everything you did for Darfield.”
