LAUNCHING through the water at unbelievable speeds, water spraying everywhere, Langdon Hills hydroplane racer George Sawyer was a man who lived his life at full velocity.
He broke the hydroplane record on LakeWindermere, racing 103.87 miles per hour, in 1986, aged 58. But at 6ft 5ins, the powerhouse of a man was also a gentle giant who would help those around him and was a mentor to many.
On September 29, 2022, aged 94, George passed away, leaving a legacy of a life well lived rippling behind him like the waves made by his beloved hydroplanes.
George Alexander Sawyer was born on July 2, 1928, at home in Worthing Road, Laindon, which was then a rural hamlet.
His first school was Dunton Road School, then Markhams Chase and onto Laindon High Road School where he earned a scholarship to Chelmsford Techni cal College. He cycled every day to Chelmsford, a round trip of about 30 miles on a bike with solid tyres.
During the Second World War he was a driver of a Daimler dingo scout car, searching out the enemy and reporting back to headquarters. While acting as part of the peace keeping force he and his captain were blown up by a landmine on the road to Udine in Italy. His cap tain was killed, and while George survived he sustained a seriously smashed knee and broken ribs. Yet in true George style he was reporting back for duty seven weeks later.
After leaving the army he trained to become a “saw doctor”, an engineer who makes sure car pentry machinery is operating.
Whilst working in the railway arches adjacent to the New Cross Speedway Stadium in south Lon don, George met the great Austral ian speedway rider Ron Johnson.
Before his love of speedboats, George was a member of Southend and District Motorcycle Club and did some engineering work on one of his bikes where Ron taught him how to ride a speedway bike.
According to George riding a speedway bike was similar to driving a hydroplane, which would come in handy later on.
George, who later lived at Great Berry Lane, Langdon Hills, got into hydroplane racing in his forties, discovering a joint passion for him and his wife Nina.
On October 18, 1986, he achieved he recorded speeds averaging 103.87 miles perhour atLakeWindermere and joined the illustrious K7 club.
He completed for over 30 years in the sport all over the world. George’s life story has been documented within Ken Porter’s book Basildon Famous People.
He was also a member of the Motorboat Museum at the Green Centre at Wat Tyler Park where he contributed hydroplanes to the collection. The Basildon Borough Herit age group is located at the Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea.
For more details visit www. basildonheritage.org.uk or search “Basildon Heritage” on Facebook.
Beloved uncle to newphew Mark
For his nephew Mark Remmington, George Sawyer was a mentor, busi ness partner and a wonderful uncle.
“George was my fairy godfather and wise sage all wrapped up in one,” said Mark.
“He set up a very successful build ing business which he ran well into his 70s. When I got into property development, he was the man I went to for advice.”
During his work as a saw doctor, making bespoke furniture, George soon discovered that not only could he keep the machinery running but he could operate the machinery and earn extra money by doing piece work.
“He saved up his overtime money and set up his own timber yard in Hullbridge, called G A Sawyers,” said Mark.
It was while working in Hullbridge that George met the love of his life, Nina.
George, who was the older brother to Mark’s mum Olive and sister Betty, saw the boom in house building and decided it was a great opportunity to expand.
“He was a great businessman, he would supply timber to building com panies, and he decided to build the houses himself,” said Mark.
“He was told by a teacher when he was at school that he’d either be a genius or imbecile. He was a genius - not a lot of commonsense, but he was a genius at what he did.”
George and Mark worked together on a warehouse project with Unilever which saw them travel together.
“We worked very hard during those two years, we worked long hours and then went backto thehotel and had dinner together and a beer and would chat. I look back at those times fondly.”
Mark misses the guidance he received from George, someone he could always rely on. “He never sought fame or favour, but people respected him,” said Mark.
Mark came to watch his uncle race hydroplanes on many occasions.
“He was a conservative man by nature, but speed was his thing. He was a thrill seeker,” said Mark.
“He did to engines what no one else could, he tinkered with the fuel and took them from four cylinders to three, to maximise speed. It was highly explosive, but he took it to the limit.”
“When he was 65 his heart didn’t pass the rigorous medical but he continued to help organise Royal Yachting Association events all over Europe,” said Mark.
“A dinner was held in his honour, but he couldn’t go because he was in hospital. Nina went and collected his award for him, awarded by the Princess Royal.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here