Chris was born in Southend-on-Sea on 3rd May 1931 and lived with his parents and younger brother Malcolm. He regularly used to talk of his idyllic war time childhood playing on the beaches, swimming in the sea and watching Spitfires and Hurricanes dog fight over the Thames …….. whilst avoiding the minefields!

He was evacuated to Matlock in Derbyshire during the war, but soon after joining his new school he caught meningitis, after being given the school desk of a boy who had died. His brother Malcolm probably saved his life, as he told their mother when they arrived home that he didn’t know what was wrong with Chris, as he kept laying down on the way home and going to sleep. He was taken to hospital quickly and luckily survived as he was one of the first people to be given a new wonder drug Penicillin. However his ability to sleep anytime, anywhere was a trait he kept throughout his life.

He was a keen cyclist and member of Southend Wheelers Cycling Club and won many medals, as well as cycling long distances at weekends. He recounted how he and his brother Malcolm riding a tricycle once cycled from Southend to the Isle of Sheppey.

After leaving school he did his National Service in the Transport Corp, mainly based in Edinburgh. He loved Scotland and returned many times over the years for holidays.

Chris was always interested in the land and horticulture and worked for Southend Council tending the West Cliff Gardens. He then went to Writtle Agricultural College for 2 years and then onto Kew for a further 3 years, at both places, he made some good friends for life.

After Kew, he had considered going to work abroad but got offered a job by John Waterer & Sons, one of the leading landscaping companies in Great Britain in Twyford, Berkshire. Paula’s father also worked for them, Chris and Paula were destined to meet at some time.

They married on September 16th 1961 and were joined after a few years by sons Andrew and Peter.

Chris and Paula moved to Kent for a better job in July 1966 but within months the company folded. Faced with no income, a new house and a young family, he started his own landscaping company in July 1967. Things were not easy initially, but they survived, then in 1969 they opened a Garden Centre in Rochester Road, Gravesend, which they also ran until 1993.

During this time he helped to form The British Association of Landscape Industry and subsequently became National Chairman in 1981. He continued his involvement with BALI and landscaping for many years and was well thought of within the industry.

Although Andrew and Peter took over the company around 1997, something he was very happy about, he continued to work with them to varying degrees up until his 80’s.

He was a founder member of Strood Rotary and remained actively involved for 40 years, where he made many good friends as well as raising a lot of money for good causes.

Chris and Paula had many lovely holidays in later years to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Europe, America and Canada and numerous cruises.

They also went on a number of family holidays with their grandchildren including a last holiday in the Isles of Scilly this July.

He was very proud of Andrew and Peter and also of his grandchildren Francesca, Samuel and Isabella.

Chris was always the life and soul of the party, his persistence in getting people up and dancing was legendary. He was also famous for his love of Beetle Drives, organising a number of drives for the Rotary and at family events.