John, Johnny & George
Excerpts from ‘Farewell to South Ealing’s ”Guitar George”’
(EalingToday.co.uk, Annemarie Flanagan 2021)
Owner John Gardonyi paid tribute:
We opened our shop over 16 years ago and I think from very early on George started coming in. He was scary! He was unpredictable, rude, abusive, loud and as we found out through the years harmless, lonely and scared.
He had many psychological problems, bipolar, paranoia and no understanding of how to interact socially which led to him being barred (rightly so) from many places. Yet inside was a caring individual trying to get out, always paid his debts, always buying gifts and praying for people he cared about. He lived for his music and loved his guitar (though did smash one up in frustration) and wrote some very clever songs.
George was born 24th August 1963. He was adopted as far as I know and seems to have spent much of his life alone. Sadly George never knew that many people in the community always looked out for him, but it’s heartening what a community we have in Ealing. So many people from St. John’s and St. Mary’s churches helped him as did so many people in the locality in South Ealing. Much of George’s time seemed troubled, but at least he is at peace now.
John Kelleher who helps out in the shop said:
George was a busker and lived much of his life on the streets. He loved music and knew a lot about it. But his performances were quite raucous and strange. He admitted that people sometimes gave him money to stop rather than to perform.
He enjoyed coming to the guitar shop to sit and talk and play. He was less happy when customers came in. They disturbed and annoyed him. We would explain that the shop existed for customers and not just for him. George did not always take this well; sometimes he would apologize. He would tell jokes and stories and laugh uproariously. His laugh could be heard streets away. George was not easy, or gentle or often very nice. But he was a real character; we need more of them, not less. We will miss him.
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