In memory of Geoff Pleydell

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Geoff Pleydell on 20th June 2026 at the age of 95.

His career of over six decades spanned his role with Unilever’s United Africa Company and then, with his late wife Marion, his own business providing knowledge and information to the tropical forestry community. His early years were spent between Ghana, Nigeria and the UK assessing and developing markets for tropical timbers and timber products.

More recently, he authored The Tropical Timbers of Ghana and Wildlife in Ghana. He worked for a range of clients, including the World Bank, assessing forestry investment projects and representing the UK Government at international trade negotiations.

Geoff also served as a private sector member of the United Kingdom delegation to the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC). A respected tropical timber trade expert, consultant and writer, he was a strong advocate for dialogue between the international timber trade and government delegations, championing cooperation to balance commercial interests with sustainable forest management.

Together with his late wife Marion, Geoff published the specialized industry newsletter Tropical Timbers, whose pioneering market intelligence and trade reporting provided an important foundation for the development of ITTO's Market Information Service and the bi-weekly Tropical Timber Market Report.

His vision and advocacy helped lay the groundwork for structured communication within the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), including the establishment of the Annual Market Discussion held during sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council.

He is survived by his four children.

His funeral is at the Surrey & Sussex Crematorium at 12:45 on Thursday 23rd July.