Died 22nd May 2025

Volunteer with Falkland Road Organic Gardeners

Chris was born in Worcester in 1947. He attended Worcester Grammar School on a scholarship and then attended Leicester University to get a degree in Languages and History. He worked as a care assistant before getting a social work qualification from Edinburgh University.

I met Chris in the early 1970s when he came to Liverpool to become a social worker in a children’s team, and we shared a flat in South Liverpool with another friend Helen. Chris became involved with Meditation, and he worked at Alder Hey in a child psychiatric team before joining Barnardo’s and managing their family therapy team. He later worked in Adult Education and as a translator in Italian using his fabulous language skills. He always loved books and reading, often in French or Italian. He took great pride in working as a translator for Royal de Luxe, the company that brought the Giant puppets to Liverpool.

His long-term partner Rose lived in North Wales, where he loved visiting and walking the mountains. She moved to Wallasey but unfortunately died about 4 years ago leaving Chris devastated.

I introduced Chris to FROG many years ago and he worked with the team as a popular and enthusiastic gardener, sowing seeds and planting flowers and vegetables to eat and to sell at the Wirral Environmental Network fairs. Everyone said what a lovely gentleman Chris was. He was always chatty and had a beautiful speaking voice. Above all he was always very positive about life and helping the environment.

Chris suffered a catastrophic stroke in August 2023 which left him paralysed and bedbound. Clatterbridge told him they could do no more for him and he would need nursing care but with his positive attitude he got organised with private physiotherapy and worked tirelessly to get back on his feet back and to his own house.

He went home with adaptations and managed for 6 months but became weak, lost his voice and was given the terrible news that he had an aggressive form of Motor Neurone Disease. He could not fight this and returned to a nursing home. However, he continued to do his best to communicate with his visitors and the staff at the home.

MND is a horrible and cruel disease and Chris did not have an easy time. I’m glad he is now at peace but I will always miss his friendship and company.

Judith Anton
Chair, FROG