Tribute to Paul Wilson - 19/08/1956 to 03/01/2019

We are sad to inform you that Paul Wilson a former engineer at GEA passed away suddenly after Christmas.

Remembering Paul, Martin Hart, Contracts Director at APC Utilities Manager UK & Ireland said: “Paul joined GEA as Senior Service Engineer back in April 1993 and thankfully for us he stayed with the company for a total of 26 years. In the early years, he travelled all over the world commissioning industrial refrigeration plants for other GEA organisations and for the last ten years, he worked throughout Europe and the UK. It was obvious to anyone who knew him that Paul loved his work - to him it wasn’t just a job, it was his hobby and his life. Paul was a well known and highly respected figure throughout the refrigeration industry.  He was a first-class engineer with a world of experience gained from years of hard work and dedication that he gave to his profession. When it came to a problem on any industrial refrigeration system, it was regarded as a well-known fact that “if Paul Wilson couldn’t fix it, then nobody could”. When he ran the projects for you on site, you knew that it was in the best hands and that it would be done properly. Paul was an extremely well liked, popular person within the company and with everyone else he worked with on sites. He always made time to help and give support to anyone who needed it, especially the younger engineers who benefited from his vast knowledge of the plants we work on. Whenever you were on site, you always knew when Paul was around especially when his mobile phone rang because you would instantly recognise his Elvis Presley ring tone! I used to smile when Paul’s expenses came to me for signing off because it was always the exact same amount every time for his usual McDonalds breakfast consisting of a bacon & egg McMuffin, coffee and a chocolate cookie!Whenever we were lodging away, we always tried to get a beer or two after work but he would always say after just a couple of pints “that’s me done – up early in the morning” and of course he always was. He was always the first on site in the morning and the last to leave site at the end of the day but only after checking everything and everyone was OK. Paul was a very good friend, a true gentleman and a genuinely nice person who will be greatly missed by all of his colleagues and friends at GEA. May you rest in peace our dear friend, it was our pleasure to have known you.”

The IOR would like to extend its condolences to Paul’s family and friends.