George Lamb Watt

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our Dad, George L. Watt, on November 19, 2024. 

Dad was born in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. He grew up one of seven children and remained close to the last of his siblings to survive him, his twin sister, Elizabeth (Auntie Betty.) His love and pride of Scotland was evident throughout his 90 years and he often talked of his beloved home country.

After finishing high school, Dad attended the Edinburgh School of Building and Crafts for one year. He then started his apprenticeship as a French Polisher. One of the tradesmen instructing Dad was the (then unknown) actor, Sean Connery. Anyone who met Dad, was first and foremost regaled with stories of the great Sean Connery and him polishing coffins together! In May of 1952, Dad was conscripted into the British Army for National Service. After two trips overseas, Dad spent the rest of his army service at the War Office in London as a cipher decoder. Dad was in the contingent of the Royal Army Signals Corps and marched in the parade for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Dad’s early life was largely defined by his love of fishing. For the ten year period that he and our family lived in Kitimat, B.C., he took home the yearly trophy for largest steelhead on the fly, largest cutthroat on the fly, and largest coho on the fly, awarded by the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club. Family legend maintains that an initial plan of immigration to Australia from Scotland was changed last minute when Dad and his brother-in-law, Hughie, learned of the superior fishing in Canada. So, in 1965, Dad and Mum set off for Canada with two young children in tow: Andrew, age 4 and Anne, age 1. Daughter, Sue, was born three years later in 1968 in Kitimat.

In 1976, the family moved to Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast where Dad was hired as a painter at Port Mellon. In 1984, he was hired as the caretaker of the Gamma Phi Beta Girls Camp in West Sechelt. He looked after the Camp for the next 19 years until it closed down in 2003. Dad was meticulous, as always, in his work there and went above and beyond to ensure the safety and fun for the underprivileged children who came each summer. Dad told many great stories of fun with the girls and their counselors, often pulling pranks and jokes on the unsuspecting campers. It was in 1998 when Dad married Lucy, engaging in a loving partnership for 26 years, right up until his death.

Dad is survived by his wife, Lucy, his children, Andrew, Anne, and Sue, his grandchildren, Sarah, Seth, Clayton, Emily, Ian, Maddie, Jack and Zee, as well as his great-granddaughter, Cora. He will be greatly missed by many friends and extended family, including his step-daughters, Sarah and Vicky and former sister-in-law, Anne Nicol. Dad was pre-deceased by his ex-wife, friend, and mother of his children, Margaret, in 2023. 

As per Dad’s wishes, his ashes will be taken back to his native Scotland, and scattered in St. Mary’s Loch in the beautiful Border Country he loved so much. There, he will be reunited with his father, James, and older brothers, Andrew and John. Together again at a favourite spot to do some fishing.

Our Dad was proud, protective, funny, and strong. He was a wonderful storyteller, and to watch him tell stories was as entertaining as listening to the stories themselves. He always delivered tales of his youth with such excitement and animation! He was small in stature, but a hero – larger than life - to his children. We are so grateful he had 90 years on this Earth, but it is hard to imagine this world without him. We love you so much, Dad. Rest in peace and happy fishing.