History of the Trust Founder George Angelides

George Angelides was a proud 70yr old Greek Cypriot, recovering not only from the profound and devastating effects of Guillain Barre Syndrome, but also from six full cycles of Chemotherapy for Large B Cell Type Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

George had strong links to the local Greek Orthodox Church in Leicester, and his kind, generous and supportive nature was uncompromisingly offered to many people in their time of need. George remained hospitalised for 16 months and passed away suddenly on the 2nd April 2007. Before his untimely death George together with his children founded the GAT trust. Throughout his long illness George showed that despite life’s hardships you can be brave and find inner strength if you have love in your heart.

This is his story.

Born in Limassol Cyprus on the 17th January 1937, George spent his early years painting and drawing the Cyprus wildlife at only 16 he was commissioned to paint the ‘Coca Cola’ trademark on many shop signs in Limassol, some of which are still in existence today. It was during his time with Thomas Cook travel agents in Limassol and aged only 17 that George like so many other Greek Cypriots decided to seek a better life in the UK. George arrived in London during 1954, he was alone and had only a few pounds in his pocket. Working day and night until his feet bled as a comi waiter and quickly rising to head waiter at the famous ‘Mirabelle’ Restaurant in London, George would speak of meeting such famous stars such as the actor’s Jack Palance and Charlton Heston.

His real passion for great food, cooking and good wines would enthrall all those who met him for many years to come. George moved to Leicester in 1957 and there met his future wife Aileen. During 1959 a daughter Stella was born and in 1962 a son Peter arrived. Always highly competitive by nature George won the Inter Hotels snooker tournament during 1979 and would remain as Banqueting Manager at the Grand Hotel Leicester for some 20yrs until 1984, taking care of people such as Princess Margaret and Princess Anne as well as countless other famous names and celebrities. During 1984 George opened ‘Le Caprice’ a beautiful French restaurant in the very centre of Leicester. His superb skills at Flambé with classic dishes such as Chateaubriand, Steak Diane and Steak Au Poivre would ensure his restaurant was soon full of classic French cuisine devotees.

His keen love of golf also began during this time and over the years he played all over the world. Aged 68 and only two weeks after playing golf at the Forest of Arden (shown in the picture), George became unwell and was diagnosed with a Kidney Stone. Surgery was not performed instead George had a Stent placed (to drain the kidney) and Lithotripsy a medical procedure that used shock waves to break up. From the first session of Lithotripsy George’s condition deteriorated and George experienced tingling and numbness across both sides of his body.

Despite this and concerns raised to the hospital a second treatment took place which appeared to make the tingling, numbness and burning sensations much worse. On the 26th December 2005 George was admitted into hospital with extensive tingling and numbness it was found through MRI scans that he had suffered several Bi Lateral (both sides) strokes, not caused by blood clots though but by emboli / vegetation (over 20 small pieces of infection). Discharged home on the 6th January 2006 (despite concerns raised by the family that this was to early) George was to experience further tingling numbness and paralysis beginning in the toes and feet and ascending throughout the body.

Over the next 48hrs his legs buckled, he was unable to weight bear, the arms, hands; face and breathing were also affected. This was a terrifying time for a man who was normally so fit and healthy. Despite 24hr care by the family and every effort to keep him at home on the 12th January 2006 then aged 69 George was re-admitted into Hospital. After almost four weeks of continual deterioration and no diagnoses a CT scan revealed 5 masses which were later that day confirmed as High Grade B Cell type Lymphoma. George was immediately transferred to the Haematology unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary on the 4th February 2006.

Given only two weeks to live without treatment and only days with it (it was felt he would not survive one cycle of Chemotherapy), the family fought for the latter and it was agreed George at least deserved one try with Chemotherapy before considering the end of life outcomes. At this time the family also began looking into Lymphoma and associated paralysis and found a useful paper listing some associations, amongst this included Guillain Barre Syndrome after some weeks of further research the family realised that not only did George have Lymphoma but also Guillain Barre Syndrome as George displayed all the symptoms associated with the condition.

It was difficult to persuade the doctors and other healthcare professionals of the association despite findings of the Campylobacter bug, raised protein in the spinal fluid and paralysis It would take some four months before the Consultant Neurologist would finally agree and confirm that George had Guillain Barre by then any hope of recovery aided by treatment or recovery completely lost. Except for a single course of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) agreed by the Professor whist undergoing Chemotherapy no further treatment was offered for the Guillain Barre and the focus became the six cycles of Chemotherapy treatment that George was to successfully and quite unbelievably manage for ten months until October 2006. His devoted family remained at his bedside day and night.

Scans revealed the Lymphoma was some 70% in remission after just two cycles of Chemotherapy and after cycle six in September there were tears of joy to find there was no disease present. George remained cancer free until his death. After more discussions with Consultants it was finally agreed that George Should receive rehabilitation at the Leicester General Hospital he was to remain at the hospital until his sudden and unexpected death on the 2nd April 2007.

To date the family is awaiting the outcome of a formal Coroner’s Inquest. The family experienced and learned many things over the 16 months that George was hospitalised and decided with George that a Charity registered in his name was needed to promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of Guillain Barre Syndrome and associated illnesses in the United Kingdom though the provision of financial assistance, support and practical advice.