Sometimes in death we sugar coat

We lay accolade the person who has passed

Only remembering the good bits.

With Chris it’s different

I felt it straight away.

I knew there was no sugar-coating.

We remember the good bits

Rightfully laying praise to his name.

There were so many good bits

He was such a good man.

Equally we remember the not so good

The bits I, we, found annoying

He could really be annoying.

But we forgave his foibles easily

Because of how he made us feel when we were near him.

Because his heart was pure, he cared and he loved.

Today Chris would have turned 36

No age at all.

I wanted to share with you his Eulogy his cousin Andy wrote and read at his funeral

He put it together from stories people told him.

Tales of the things they remembered

Things he did and how he made them feel

I wanted you to get an idea of him from someone other than me.

It’s not everything

It could never be everything

But it was, it is, perfect

Perfectly about the man.

 

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight.
It’s the size of the fight in the dog.
Well Chris was a fighter and so much more.

A man who fought his illness with dignity.
A man who inspired everyone who came into contact with him.

Born in 1982 Chris was;
Malc and Jans loveable boy
Jimmy and Micheles wonderful son-in-law
Anna’s little brother
Uncle to Alex, Rob and Tyler
And most importantly best friend and loving husband of Becky.

Becky the girl he pursued at Edge Hill Uni
Who tried to shake him off, but eventually fell for his charm and humour
Becky who he married in 2006
Becky who gave him his beloved Lily and Sam
Becky his rock
A strong, beautiful woman
His true love.

Loved as he was Chris had his foibles ….
From childhood Jan knew he’d work hard enough, but just hard enough.
Swot to get 10 out of 15 in spelling tests to avoid detention
but get 12 and he’d wasted time he could have spent playing.
‘A’ grade GCSEs? No B’s and C’s would be fine.

Alcohol, well that could lead to trouble, and occasionally did.
Trips in police vans
Pick-ups from police stations by pyjama clad mates.
Rides home in police cars
‘Don’t tell my mum, she’s king ding at forensics’
but they always did.

Lifts home from the pub, better call Jan
At 2:30, definitely Jan
Please can you come and pick me up from The Foot.
but when Jan got there where was Chris?
100 miles away in Birmingham.

On Lads & Dad night, Christmas eve
Out with Malc and the boys
he’d famously cadge the one lift home but leave his dad behind, stranded!
Cheers mate.

But was he Irish?
He certainly pretended to be to get on that rugby trip to Russia!

And smelly feet, or was that his trainers?
Loud and garish
never matching his trackie
Loop holes in his laces you could hand a rhino from.

He could be a k’nob but a loveable k’nob

However, you could forgive him anything because on the positive side
He was a family man through and through
He’d take jobs that got him home for school runs,
cook for the family
hold tea parties with Lily and Sam
and read bedtime stories.

He was a born leader
A man’s man
Best man to Peety, Hughsey and Watto
The man you wanted beside you on your big day.
He was inspirational
20-0 down to Lancaster at rugby, he came on;
rollocked the forwards
smashed a few people
and single handedly brought about a 24-20 win.

He was respected
By family
By friends
by fellow cancer sufferers
by everyone whose life he touched.

And he was funny, very funny
Top with the bants and quick witted
When he got on a roll he was unstoppable.
The pencil roll into the sea in spain
Laughing and giggling with his dad playing board games
Pinching Spruceys beans on toast before the Carlisle challenge cup game.

And he was sociable
Never missed an event and loved a BBQ
and BBQ
Yours, mine, his, a strangers
In his element bringing people together and having fun.

In the words of another….
Chris had this very special ability to make everyone believe they were his friend and they were special to him.

He was one of those people that when you spent time in his company the world was a better place
You felt as though you had known him forever. You felt a connection.
You felt happier going to an event, night out, just for a pint, knowing he would be there.

He was a very caring person and would always contact friends that may be struggling or had received bad news
He had the ability to heal the pain through his company alone.

He was a very special human being who we are all lucky to have had in our lives
Chris was one of a kind and will never be forgotten.
A true friend, who believed in the power of friendship.

And remember…
Locks have been left in favourite places by Chris and Becky, but you all like me will have one in your hearts
The one that locks Chris there forever.

And in your heads you’ll often hear
When you’re feeling in the dumps, don’t be silly chumps, just purse your lips and whistle that’s the thing.
Always
Always look on the bright side of life.

Rest in Peace Chris
We all love and miss you so much