In 1988, the Queen created a private plea to Capes To participate in One more Games following he skipped a competition adhering to a dispute. He was mentioned to be a favorite of hers and agreed To participate.

In the course of tea breaks in the haulier’s property, Capes created up his arm muscles by holding two 4st measuring weights earlier mentioned his head. He also build a makeshift gymnasium with two pals.

By 1983 he was officially the entire world’s strongest gentleman but the next 12 months shed the title to Jón Páll Sigmarsson.

As my father was 6ft four" tall and massive boned along with a previous Unique Constable with Peterborough law enforcement the two bought on properly. Anytime I found Geoff, he would say "I realize you from someplace" but it had been my father that he must are thinking about.”

And he turned the president in the Budgerigar Modern society and was in no way happier than when he received the earth budgie championship and travelled the globe judging fowl shows.

Geoff had also adopted the family tradition of getting a police officer and expended ten yrs within the Cambridgeshire drive. But he was forced to retire in an effort to contend while in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow as Key Minister Margaret Thatcher had banned servicemen from participating.

His sizing meant he was routinely pitted from more mature opponents; invariably he beat them. By the end of 1966, aged 17, he was ranked thirtieth from the countrywide listings.

Jenni Rayner stated: “We now have a stunning image of my daughter, then 5, on his shoulder when he planted a tree at Sutton Bridge infant college. All of my small children treasure the memory.”

“He devoted his daily life to his Activity and the legacy continues Particularly by means of his grandchildren who definitely have now achieved around the Worldwide stage and of whom he was immensely happy.

Even with read more entering the Olympics 3 times, Capes by no means received a medal on the Game titles. This was normally A serious disappointment for one particular who so regularly beat the world’s ideal on other occasions.

Nevertheless the star was finest often called the entire world’s Strongest Gentleman, who could tear London cell phone directories in 50 % and bend a few-foot extended, one particular-inch diameter metal bars.

After, at Scotland’s Braemar Video games, he employed a lot resin competing that when he was congratulated through the late Queen, their palms caught collectively, resulting in Her Majesty to roar with laughter.

A single mentioned on X: “I watched him as being a young man — my sincerest ­condolences to his friends and family, we’ll pass up you Geoff.”

He mentioned: “I have regarded Geoff for many years and though he may very well be outspoken he was a gentle huge with a terrific sense of humour. His is truly a legend in Holbeach and immortalised around the Holbeach Mosaic during the town Centre, along with his commentator Mate Stuart Storey and Paralympian Sally Reddin who all put Holbeach nicely and definitely within the Intercontinental stage.

A similar may be assumed in the leaders Staff GB's delegation for the 1972 Olympics, just after Capes liberated a crate of whiskey bottles from their Workplace.