Gerry Waring was born in Ilford on the 6th November 1929 to Stella and Abraham Schwachman, the name was changed to Waring in the late thirties.
Stella, his mother, was born in the house now occupied by Trudies Beautician on St. Andrews Hill, Norwich. Her family moved to the East End of London when she was twelve years of age. Gerry’s father arrived in the East End from Kumenchook, Russia, at the age of five.
Jack was the eldest in the family, then Faye, Gerry and Elizabeth. At the age of 14, Gerry joined his father and Jack in the family furniture business in Bethnal Green manufacturing bedroom furniture. Gerry had always been a very keen sportsman – belonging to the Ilford Athletic Club where he specialised in triathlon. He was a keen cricketer, excelled at squash and finally succumbed to tennis and badminton.
Gerry married Dorothy at the West London Synagogue on February 14th 1954 and had four children – Deborah, twins David and Bernard and Graham. Gerry carried on the family business after his father and Jack retired. His company was the first to make flat pack furniture following a request from Conran. Whilst working in the furniture business he studied Psychoanalysis – this was a subject very dear to his heart. He studied under Laing and various other people for over 11 years and regularly attended lectures in London and elsewhere up until he was taken ill. He was also a member of the Spiritualist Society and did a lot of good work in the field. Two of his favourite hobbies were sculpture and photography. He worked hard and played hard and certainly loved life. He is greatly missed by his family.
Dorothy Waring