Godfrey Knox, 1939 – 2010

21 January 2010Jim Ganley

By Tom Pennells, ’98 Godfrey Knox came to Brentwood in 1992 to join Dan O’Brien in the Rambling program (Outdoor Pursuits) as a coach and climbing specialist. I met him in the spring of 1994 as a wide-eyed grade 8 in search of adventure. My first day of Rambling was not what I had expected. We sat in a dark, windowless chemistry classroom. Godfrey ran a slideshow of a mountaineering expedition. They were snapshots from a group of friends attempting to conquer some snowy peak. He pointed out little details in his calm deep voice with its English accent. The expedition started out as well as any could. It was a clear sunny day with the summit in sight. As the group neared their goal, the weather turned sour quickly. They were prepared though, they had lugged tents for shelter, food, stoves and fuel to keep them warm. Yet that didn’t matter, they didn’t use the tools that they had brought. Not everybody made it through that bitter night. Those fortunate few that were rescued in the morning lost fingers or toes to frost-bite. It didn’t have to happen that way and Godfrey explained why. You must always keep a calm and clear head when facing adversity. While being prepared for the conditions you may face is very important, how you handle stressful times in your life will make all the difference. It’s a lesson that I’ve taken to heart. This first day was different, yet the message was the same as it would always be. Subsequent sports afternoons were filled with kayaking and rock climbing on walls at the school or outdoor locations. Some days we’d scramble around a tree-top obstacle course and every Saturday we’d set out on a wilderness hike not knowing if we’d return to our beds that night. To help teach us the importance of being prepared, we’d stay out overnight once a term surviving with only the gear we’d brought. We never knew which night it would be. Through all of it, I always felt safe with Godfrey and Dan. One rainy aftenoon, I slipped down a steep slope when my hand hold gave way. A large rock tumbled down after me and sliced open my hand. I witnessed Godfrey’s word put into action that day. Having attended his memorial service, I heard many more stories of how Godfrey had positively affected the lives of friends and family. Always caring and always happy to teach, he was a great man with a lot of time for people. I feel very fortunate to have known him and learned from him. I know that all of the Ramblers will miss him, his sense of humour and that sweet-smelling tobacco pipe.

A link to Godfrey’s online obituary can be found here: http://www.legacy.com/CAN-Victoria/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=138423902

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