John Grundy
How very sad to learn belatedly of Chris’s death. I was a childhood friend of Chris, growing up like him near Crewkerne in Somerset. My parents ran a preparatory school for boys aged seven to thirteen, and when Chris and I were about four or five years old they added a nursery section in which we shared experiences. Chris remained a pupil at Perrott Hill School before going on to Repton aged 13. I was sent away to a different boarding school so we saw each other only in school holidays. I remember playing tennis (and losing!) with him on the courts at my parents’ school where I lived, so it’s interesting to read how he maintained that sport in his later years. I have many happy memories of sharing parties, dances and later, when Chris owned his first open-top Triumph car, of trips to London as his passenger. On Boxing Day each year there was a fancy dress pram race in Crewkerne, and I still have a photo of Chris dressed as Queen Boadicea being pushed by me along Market Street in 1965 which I have posted here. When Chris moved to the lodge at Cricket Malherbie I visited a few times, and the last time I saw him before he went to the States was in May 1983 when my wife Diana and my two step-children spent a holiday week in a cottage near Crewkerne and joined Chris and his dog (a Labrador, I think) for a walk on Lewesdon Hill. I lost touch after he went to the States – no email and Google in those days – and greatly regret that I have only traced him too late. We who knew him all those years ago send deepest condolences to Rhonda and family, and are pleased to read of his happy life with you.
Monday January 15, 2018 at 5:06 am
