Geoffrey Dodsworth

Who is Geoffrey Dodsworth?

Geoffrey Hugh Dodsworth is a well-respected and successful former merchant banker and British Conservative Party politician.

Educated at St. Peter's School, York, Dodsworth began his working life in 1945 as an article clerk and subsequently a Chartered Accountant at Barron & Barron in York.

After two years' service in the army, from 4 July 1946 to 26 August 1948, Dodsworth returned to Barron & Barron where he worked on a number of major business activities for large estates in Yorkshire and London until 1963.

He married his first wife, Isabel Neale, in 1949, who died in September 1967 after a long illness. They had one daughter, Helen. Whilst at Barron & Barron, Geoffrey also became Justice of the Peace for York in 1960 - at just 32, he was one of the youngest ever magistrates for the city.

Dodsworth set up a group of companies in the export and import trade in 1963 and travelled extensively in Ottawa, New York and Washington, developing these businesses.

Always intrigued and passionate about politics, Dodsworth became Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on York City Council in 1964 and was a member of the Council for six years, serving on major committees specialising in financial matters.