Maria Tabony

I have pondered over how I wanted to say all the things I felt about Chris. However, I know my words will never do justice to such a fantastic man. He meant so much to so many people, enriching people's lives without even realising.

I met Chris when he was working at Mill Rythe, I watched in awe as a young guest as he sang You'll Never Walk Alone. A year on I was working at Mill Rythe and was proud to be stood on the same stage as him. As a young teenage girl he took me under his wing and we often had 'deep meaningfuls' long into the night, he certainly showed me how to drink! We would then escort each other back towards the chalet blocks scaring each other with 'rat sightings!'

I'll never forget the first show I worked on with Chris, his exquisite musical arrangements inspired my choreography. After the opening night, he was so complimentary and said "this is going to be a lasting relationship." I was so honoured and would wait excitedly to create new material. Before rehearsals began, I would sit in the band room on a stack of music, surrounded by smoke, while helping Chris build pyramids of diet Pepsi cans. I would then prance around the little room improvising whilst Chris banged out several medleys he had created on the keyboard with a full ashtray on the side. Even when we met again on the Ocean Village in May 2006, he was still telling others that we were a great working partnership, I will always treasure that.

Chris and I loved to gossip together about anything and everything and it was great to be back with him on the OV after keeping in touch on the internet for so long. He was so happy to be showing his skills again to Stevie and I, and was beaming with excitement as he came to the front of the stage to perform Baker Street, which he knew was one of my faves. He was also proud of showing people on the ship who Stevie and I were and we spent ages reminiscing on the good old days. Whilst on the OV, somebody had sent him an A4 book, which contained notes on events that had happened during his early days at Mill Rythe, we had a giggle at that for ages. Unfortunately we didn't have long together before I moved on to another contract, but our last night was one not to forget. For years Chris had always said to me he wished he could dance and I would always reply that it was just confidence. So on our last night onboard we were up in the late night bar and disco and the showteam were on the floor. Abba's Dancing Queen came on, and the floor emptied, Chris and I had been chatting and he said he thought the song had been so cleverly orchestrated and he loved playing it in the Abba show. So I grabbed him and we took to the floor, he was mortified but I said "we're here now, relax"and he did and we pranced around the floor for the entire song , egged on by Stevie. At the end he gave me the biggest hug and with a huge grin and his head held high, we returned to our drinks.

Stevie and I left the OV in mid July and as we got on the coach he told us how proud he was of his two good friends, he told Stevie to learn the guitar and to look after ourselves. I in return told him to be good and keep dancing! He laughed and waved telling us he was "on top of the world."

I will treasure the happiness and teachings of my great friend, I will heed his words and have a promise to him that he knows I will keep. Chris I love you lots. Maria T XXX

Dave Roberts

Everyday we wake up with such fun and loving memories of our friend Chris. It is still hard to believe that he is no longer with us here, but he is definitely with us in spirit and looking down on us now!

Chris as you all know was a caring person who never ever in the time that I knew him had anything bad said against anybody. Whenever you had a problem or needed advice he was always there, day or night and that is what you call a true friend. When times got hard he would always have a smile on his face and like me (and Jo) he had a wicked sense of humour. The morning of the RNA service when Jo Farmer put the air horn through his bedroom window, Jo and I banging on his door and running away, us telling Chris that somebody had collapsed so he would go running, people telling him there was a rat so he would scream was just a handful of hysterical memories that we had with such a true gentleman. I need to add that he wasn't that innocent either, his jokes could be just as bad!

He would often drop me off home when he was going home to Wales and pick me up on the way back, even though it was often out of his way, but this again showed what a good man he was. We would meet in Swansea now and again if we were both home together and I would show him the sights, occasionally popping into the odd pub for half!

There is a saying that all my family have said since I was young, "God always takes the best first" and this saying is so true. Until we meet again Chris, and I hope that if you see my nan, who we often spoke about, you look after her and give her a big kiss from me XXX

Whenever I needed someone to talk to, you were always there. My eyes filled with tears, my heart filled with pain, and you were always there. There was no time when I had doubt to come to you because, you were always there. I could see in your eyes that you wanted to help, and that you really cared.

Whenever I was down and blue, you were always there. No matter what my problems, and what was wrong, you were always there. Whenever I felt like nothing matters, you were always there.

Now you're gone, and I don't know what to do, I close my eyes and think of you and how you were always there. It's hard to look at the pictures, and get memories of you. Can you hear me now, at night I pray, and speak to you. I guess you were right when you told me no matter how far you were, you would always be there. I know one day I'll see you again, but till then I have to say "goodbye"

Even though it hurts to hear your name, and speak of you, One thing I will always say is, "you were always there."

Kate Sloan

The Life and Soul of the party. That seems to be a fairly fitting sentence for Chris but as so many of you know, he was much, much more to every single one of us. I am so greatful and honoured to have had him in my life, I cherish every single moment that I spent with him, it's hard to believe that for now, it will be a while before we'll see him again.

The first time I met Chris, and it makes me smile now even thinking about it, was on my first day at Mill Rythe. I started on a Tuesday morning and was promptly told that I would be on stage on the Thursday in Me and My Girl. Big Steve took me down to Chris' chalet where I was greeted by a very wet Chris wearing nothing but a towel and a smile! I think he'd been out on the beers the night before and wasn't long up, actually I think I was honoured as he had been dragged out of his bed to meet me and show me the ropes of the show. From that moment on, life was never dull when he was around. There are so many memories that I have that I don't know where to start but I'll pluck some out of the recesses of my mind and share them.

Chris standing at the bar in the ballroom with a pint of John Smiths in one hand and a Royal in the other or sitting in Hudsons till the early hours singing along to the disco. I can see him now, I'm sure this will bring a smile to a few of you, when Hi Ho Silver Lining would come on he would stand up in his wonderful way, point round the table and say "Steve, bottom 5th, Kate, bottom 3rd, Tory, top 5th" and so on until we all had our part and off we would go. I can't listen to that song now without replacing the last line of the chorus... "cos I'm an octopus!"

I remember when my parents appeared just before Christmas. I had slipped on the stage and broken my foot and had to work in bookings for a few weeks. All of a sudden Chris came into the office and said that there were some guests in the ballroom who wanted to see me before they left. So off we went, Chris (like a naughty school boy) and me hobbling along behind him on the way to the ballroom. Sitting there were my mum and dad who had schemed the whole thing with the help of Mr Caswell! He couldn't resist a wind up!

And then when Dean and I got married, Chris had always said that he would play for us at our wedding but he never got there. He was so dedicated to his work that he had to stay to put together a last minute show, but he did have his glory on our big day. By this time Dean and I were off the holiday camp circuit and living in Horndean. I went down to Mill Rythe so that Chris could help me choose my entrance music. We sat in the conservatory for a while and then went back into the band room where he began to play every traditional wedding song he could think of. He said to me "Kate, I'll know when I've found your song, you'll cry," (pretty much like now to be fair) Sure enough, he started to play I Vow To Thee My Country and off I went. And although he wasn't there in person on the day, he was in my thoughts as I heard the music.

There is so much more I could say and I'm sure I'll find memories somewhere and maybe add them at a later date, but it's the little things I remember the most. Like the melted dent in the top of his keyboard where he used to lay his fag down as he played and something as simple as his smile. He could light up a room as soon as he walked in. Even rehearsing in the ballroom till 5am, with him around, was a joy. Nothing was a bother to him and nothing was a chore, he attacked everything in his life from music to friends and family, with passion and for that alone, he will be missed.

I'd like to think that this internet thing can reach a little bit further than the realms of this world and hope that he is having a look at all our stories and remembering times as fondly as we are. I'd like to think he's sitting there with a pint, geting a round in for us all when we get there.

I'll end things here for now by saying that a more generous and wonderful man will never walk this earth. On his birthday I had a star tattooed on my wrist just for him. For that's what he was, then, now and always, a star. He is in my thoughts every day. Chris you were a fantastic friend and you are fondly remembered and so sorely missed.

As I've finished writing this last bit the tv in the living room has just blasted a line from a song, You'll Never Walk Alone. I'd like to think that was his way of saying "I'm OK and I'm happy"

Sleep tight in the valleys sweetheart and sweet dreams. With my love always.

We all know that saying -

My life will NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, cigarette in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "Hell yeah, what a ride!"

I think that was Chris' motto and I think he lived up to it well, don't you?

website published and maintained by Paul Wagstaffe. paul@paulwagstaffe.co.uk