My father, Geoff Marsh, who has died aged 92, was a senior figure in the world of plumbing, a past master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers (WCoP), past president of the Institute of Plumbing (IoP) and the first chair of the World Plumbing Council.
Among his many achievements was the introduction in 2001 of the WCoP master plumber certificate, which recognises master craftspeople in the trade – an idea that was adopted by other livery companies.
His life ambition was to ensure that qualified plumbers were regarded as engineers by furthering vocational qualifications in the plumbing trade, which he believed should be recognised as equal to a university degree.
Geoff was born in Westerham, Kent, to Albert, a chauffeur, and Hilda (nee Lucock), a housekeeper in service. After school in Sevenoaks, he began work as an apprentice plumber at Durtnell and Sons in Brasted, Kent. Following a break for national service in the Royal Engineers (1953-55), he joined George Whale Plumbing and Heating in Sevenoaks, then John Mowlem in London, before a three-year spell with the Copper Development Association as an assistant building engineer.
From 1961 to 1983 he worked for Marley, rising to become technical director. While there he designed, developed and patented new drainage systems and roof gutters. In 1973 he gained the City & Guilds insignia award in technology and the WCoP’s St Michael’s Medallion, their highest award.
In 1983 he left Marley to establish his own consultancy with his wife, Ann (nee Butler), a primary school teacher whom he had married in 1956. Most of their work related to the plumbing and heating industry, including working for Ifo Sanitar of Sweden to get official approval for the first reduced-flush toilet to be commercially available in Britain.
At the WCoP he was master in 1986 and on its controlling body, the court, for 40 years. He brought together the IoP and WCoP to campaign for statutory registration of plumbers, and his vision of plumbers being recognised as engineers was realised with the emergence of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) from what was the IoP. He was made MBE in 1986.
Geoff joined the IoP in 1958 and by 1970 was made a fellow. He served as its president in 1975 and chaired its general council from 1976 to 1984. He was the inaugural chair of the World Plumbing Council from 1990-93 and received their distinguished service award in 2005.
Geoff retired at 74 but kept contributing to the work of the WCoP and the CIPHE. A Christian with a strong faith, he was active in the Church of England on ecumenical matters.
He is survived by Ann, their children, Trevor, me, Jo and Elisabeth, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
