Dr Geoff Freedman CEng CEnv HonFIAgrE

Geoff Freedman, who died aged 76, was a leading rural engineer and bridge designer who spent much of his working life with the Forestry Civil Engineering division of the Forestry Commission.

Apart from work (and vacation) related international travel, he spent most of his life living and working in Edinburgh and, realising it would not be for him, avoided going to work in the family accountancy business. Instead, following an apprenticeship with Blyth and Blyth Consulting Engineers, he attended Heriot Watt University graduating with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering in 1971. 

Geoff worked for several engineering contractors before joining the Forestry Civil Engineering department of the Forestry Commission (FC) as a Structural Engineer. He then held the positions of Structural Design, Research and Development and Contracts Engineer ending up as Head of Structures, Research and Contracts and Commercial Manager.  

Internationally known as a leader in the development of sustainable rural structures, Geoff pioneered the construction of stress laminated timber bridges and, in 2006, was awarded a PhD from Napier University on The development of transversely stress-laminated timber arch bridges for pedestrian and minor vehicle use. He later developed these bridges to carry the much heavier (35t +) vehicles used in forest timber extraction.

Not only were these bridges functional, but they were also often things of beauty exemplified by Geoff’s sensitivity to the environment and genius loci.

Geoff’s work with the Forestry Commission post gave him the opportunity to try many new ideas while he worked under Crown Exemption rather than on the public roads system where he would have been hampered by regulation.

Working with IAgrE

Joining IAgrE as a Member in 1985, Geoff was instrumental, in 1988 with others, in the establishment of a Forestry Engineering Specialist Group (FEG) within IAgrE. He transferred to Fellow in 1991. As a founding member and Past Chairman of FEG, he served on their committee for 27 years.

FEG was almost unique within IAgrE in that membership of IAgrE was not a pre-requisite for membership of FEG. allowing membership (and participation on Committees) by those who might not wish (or qualify) to become members of IAgrE. This resulted in the active participation of senior and high-profile representatives from the commercial forestry and forest engineering sector in the planning and working of FEG. 

Geoff worked with other FEG members to convene annual symposia, usually held at Newton Rigg College and always well attended. FEG holds in excess of 300  papers – the thinking of the industry in the UK.

His international work demonstrated to Geoff that there was a need for an International coming together of like-minded people and so, in June 1999 FEG convened the 1st International Conference on Forestry Engineering entitled Forestry Engineering for Tomorrow and held at the University of Edinburgh. Geoff was the lead convenor which was held over three days and attracted 70 papers and over 200 delegates from 25 countries.

Geoff was appointed as IAgrE President in 2000, was awarded Chartered Environmentalist status in 2005, received the IAgrE Award of Merit in 2006 and was made an Honorary Fellow in 2016.

Other Awards and Activities

Apart from these IAgrE awards, Geoff has received in excess of 20 other major awards for his work and structures in sustainable engineering and bridge design.

Geoff published about fifty papers, several which were peer reviewed. One of these papers (Forest Engineering Structures – co-written with Abdy Kermani) received a Douglas Bomford Trust Paper Award. He spoke at various ASAE/ASABE meetings in Chicago, Minneapolis and Sacramento on Timber Research, Chaired the Innovative Timber Structures in the Countryside network (InTec), led a DTI ITS mission to Sweden and Norway in 1999 to look at the possibilities of introducing Scandinavian concepts of non-bitumised  roads to minor rural roads in the UK, and advised the Royal Academy of Engineering in Helsinki at a global convocation of Royal Academies entitled World Forests and Technology.

As well as convening the 1st International Conference on Forestry Engineering in Edinburgh, Geoff (and IAgrE/FEG) co-sponsored the 2nd International Conference on Forestry Engineering in Sweden.

In November 2018, as a Past President of IAgrE and Fellow of ICE, Geoff represented the Institution by reading a prayer at Westminster Abbey at the National Service to celebrate the Year of Engineering. This was a particularly poignant occasion for Geoff as, soon after, he had to have his voice box removed as part of his cancer treatment. 

He started a landscaping business to gainfully occupy himself at weekends later working together in this business with his son Mark. Proficient at most trades, he was an able plumber and electrician.

Mentoring others was also a passion of Geoff and many owe their career development to his  encouragement and guidance.

Outside of work, Geoff was very active. His mantra was to have fun in all he did. 

Geoff played the piano, painted and in the latter part of his life, took up bowls and archery.

Geoff suffered from throat cancer which spread to his lungs and, latterly his spine.

A keen golfer, he was told to give up the game after the cancer affected his spine. Never one to give up, he developed a hockey swing which obviated the need to twist his cancer wracked spine. He managed a birdie!

Geoff’s wife Lana predeceased him and was a great support throughout Geoff’s career. As a great raconteur, he was renowned for going off script when speaking in public fora, Lana would prepare his speeches, with input from Geoff, to ensure he didn’t overrun his allotted time. She would also vet his jokes beforehand, but this did not prevent Geoff from occasionally delivering an unvetted joke, sometimes with unforseen consequences! 

He moved to North Berwick in his later years to benefit from the care and companionship friendship of Elaine, Geoff’s friend and partner during his last few years. One of his final acts was to complete, and find a publisher for, his book entitled Design of Rural Bridges.

His Funeral took place in Edinburgh on February 2nd and was well attended with in excess of 200 people in person and many others via a webcast. Many of his colleagues (including IAgrE and FEG members) were there. His coffin was “piped” into the Crematorium, to the tune of Highland Cathedral, by Bruce Hamilton, IAgrE Member and long standing secretary to the Forest Engineering Group.

Eulogies were delivered by Iain Hampson, Geoff’s colleague of many years, his son Mark, his daughter Susanna and Elaine. The common theme throughout was that of fun with much laughter filled the room.

As those who knew him would have expected, the assembled throng were invited to sing along with Frank Sinatra’s My Way.

Geoff is survived by his daughter Susanna and son Mark to whom we send our condolences. Both Susanna and mark provided Geoff with grandchildren who Geoff doted on.

Finally, it is perhaps fitting to quote the prayer Geoff delivered in Westminster Abbey:

Let us pray for those who work to meet the needs of the hungry and
thirsty and for all involved in promoting sustainable agriculture and
the health of the environment; and that we may all be committed to
meeting the basic needs of people everywhere.