Our wonderful Husband and Dad Chris died suddenly after a short illness on Christmas Day. 

​

Chris was born and raised in Oldham, Lancashire where he lived with his parents and older brother Howard. He had a very happy childhood causing mischief with his best friend Tony and regularly watching his first love, Oldham Athletic Football Club, play at Boundary Park on a Saturday afternoon. Chris went on to study English and History, before getting a degree in Library Studies. He moved to London where he worked as a Librarian and later for the Arts Council. While flat sharing in London he made several lifelong friends and met his Kiwi soulmate Mary Therese, who sparked his love for travelling. They enjoyed over forty very happy years together, building a family home first in Pimlico and later in Worcester Park. Chris delighted in becoming a Dad to Rachel and filled her childhood with endless laughter, adventures, and fun. His greatest love, joy, and pride was his family, and he was a warm and welcoming host to visitors from both sides of the globe. In his retirement Chris thoroughly enjoyed being part of the local walking football, aqua aerobics, keep fit, and men's walk and talk groups, in between keeping on top of all the latest political news. He will be remembered as a kind, gentle, and easy-going man with a dry Northern wit and a warm bear hug that felt like home.