Gordon Richardson Mellor (H, 1947)

The following tribute has been compiled by Gordon’s son, Nicholas Mellor.

Gordon was the beloved father of Anthony, Philip, Christopher and Nicholas with his late first wife June, husband to Fiona, stepfather to Emma and Sophie, grandfather to eleven and great grandfather to Evie. His funeral was held at Cannes Crematorium on 11 July 2024 and was well attended by family and friends who shared tributes and warm memories.

Born to Tom and Helen Mellor in 1929 in Salford, Gordon was a keen painter from the age of 12. He later held numerous exhibitions of his work and was also inspired by his friendship with L.S. Lowry. Gordon left Cheltenham College in 1947 to join the family business, Tom Mellor Ford, and was instrumental in bringing Hertz Car Rental to the UK from America.

Gordon loved socialising and entertaining, with frequent visits to his clubs including The Buck’s Club, The East India Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club, and indulged his enjoyment of golf as a member at Delamere and The Berkshire and later Zermatt/Tasch golf clubs. He shared many a round capped off with a whisky in the clubhouse and reached a respectable handicap of 8.

Gordon was also a lover of jazz and spent many hours enjoying music from the greats including Benny Goodman and Chet Baker. He was a great admirer of Frank Sinatra who, to Gordon’s delight, he met by chance on the Front at Blackpool in 1953.

After learning to sail in Salcombe in a GP14, Gordon soon acquired one at the boat show, swiftly followed by a ‘Dragon’ keelboat. He then joined the international regatta circuit. Although based in Abersoch in Wales, where he raced for many years, he also competed across Europe, ably assisted by Fiona as crew through storm force winds and racing tides. Their competition were skilled helmsman and professional tacticians including, amongst many, King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Later, Gordon embarked on sailing adventures with his family on the French Riviera, based in Le Lavandou, and spent time skiing in Zermatt. He created hundreds of paintings and poems, recently collected in a beautiful anthology of his works. His last years were filled with poetry and chess challenges, notwithstanding his battle with Parkinson's disease, a condition he met with unwavering dignity, stoicism and a wry sense of humour, a humour which also fuelled many contributions to local radio shows on the French Riviera.