Georgina Roberts - obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death in February of Georgina Roberts (née Adriazola Olmos) at the age of 90.  She was a well-known figure in the Anglo-Chilean community in London and former editor of the Chilean News for many years. 

Georgina grew up with her brothers and sisters in her native Antofagasta, where she went on during the late 1950s and early 1960s to teach English at all levels at the Technical School for Girls and at the North American Institute.

A keen swimmer, Georgina graduated in 1962 from the Universidad del Norte, majoring in English.  She travelled the following year as a Goodwill Ambassador from Chile to the USA, as a guest of the Rotary Club of Albany, New York. 

On her return home, Georgina was to meet her future husband Michael, a British telecommunications engineer with Cable and Wireless on his first overseas posting, stationed in Chile.  Their wedding took place in Santiago in 1965 and they remained happily married for the next 50 years until Michael’s death.

Between the late 1960s and early 1980s, Georgina accompanied Michael on his postings to Bermuda, Jamaica, Cayman, Dubai, and Bolivia, together with their two children, Michael-Andrew and Paulette.   On these tours, she devoted herself to family life, immersed herself in the expatriate social scene and taught Spanish to native English speakers.  

After the family settled down permanently in Surrey, Georgina was invited to form part of a group of ladies linked to the Chilean Embassy in London.  She went on to head up the group for many years, working with others to organise social events to raise funds in aid of Chilean charities, mainly for deprived children and the aged.

Georgina was also a member and officer of the American Women of Surrey and for several years was the organiser of the Chilean stand at the Anglo-Latin American Fiesta in London.  But alongside her work for charitable causes, Georgina stands out for her unstinting contribution to the Anglo-Chilean Society.

Georgina not only served as a member of the Executive Committee for many years, but having become editor of the Society’s newsletter in 1999, she and her husband Michael produced the Chilean News for over 15 years – making them a constant and enthusiastic presence at the many social events associated with the Embassy.

In recent years, although her health prevented Georgina from continuing her active role in the Society, she is remembered by many for her warmth, intelligence, commitment, and positivity; and for her energy in bringing people together to do good.

Georgina is survived by her son and three grandchildren and will be sorely missed by family and friends alike.

Below, you can see some of the Chilean news she produced over the years in collaboration with Michael:

CHILEAN NEWS ARCHIVE | anglochileansociety