Tributes paid to former Wiltshire College principal (From Wiltshire Times)

Tributes paid to former Wiltshire College principal

10:17am Thursday 12th July 2012 in News By Chris Melvin

Tributes have been paid to the the former principal of Wiltshire College and well-known Trowbridge man George Bright.

Mr Bright, 60, died from cancer at Bath’s Royal United Hospital on Sunday.

He was married to wife Gill for 35 years and had two adult children, Richard, 29, and Katie 32.

He joined Trowbridge College as a lecturer and head of business studies in 1984. In 1986, he became vice-principal at the college, but left to spend two years in the private sector, returning as principal in 1992, where he led the college through incorporation, two inspections and many other changes to become one of the first accredited colleges in the country.

When Trowbridge merged with Chippenham and Lackham colleges to form Wiltshire College, Mr Bright led the process and was principal of Wiltshire College from 2000 until his retirement in 2006.

Mrs Bright, a former primary school teacher, said: “He lived a very full life, full of friends, full of family. He was very close to his family. He saw his daughter get married this year and knew his son was very happily engaged to his girlfriend, he was very content.

“We had the same sense of humour and I think we balanced each other out because we were quite different in many ways. We’ll all miss him.”

Geoff Burgess, former chairman at the college, said: “He was a great guy. He was a great leader, he got on well with people and his commitment to whatever he was doing was absolutely 100 per cent. He had a great sense of humour, he was never dour or glum and that made it easy to work with him. I’m pleased to have had the chance to work with him. Sometimes you think it’s just not fair that certain people move on too early.”

Following his retirement Mr Bright took up some part-time consultancy work and enjoyed his many hobbies and interests.

These included running, cycling, golf and a passion for rugby, as well as enjoying spending time at his allotment in Southwick.

He was also the honorary president of Trowbridge Town FC, having helped set up and chair the youth wing, as well as earning some coaching badges.

Trowbridge Town's chairman Ralph McCaldon said: "He was a real gentleman, a really nice guy. We're looking to try and organise some kind of memorial game, hopefully with ex-Trowbridge and ex-Bradford Town players, with the proceeds to Dorothy House.

"He had a huge input into the club and it's very very sad to see him go."

He worked closely with Wiltshire Council and the Wessex Chambers of Commerce and helped found Action For Wiltshire.

Stefan Barburak, manager at the Wessex Chambers of Commerce, said: “He will be very sadly missed. He was very pro-the community. He was a very nice man, a real friend and somebody who had a lot of experience. He was a true gentleman.”

Leader of Wiltshire Council, Jane Scott, added: “It’s extremely sad news.

“His legacy actually lives on within Action For Wiltshire and he will always be remembered for that. He was a very committed man, he is a great loss for the county.”

Mrs Bright added that she would like to thank everyone who had offered support to her husband and family during his illness.