Christopher died peacefully at 2pm this afternoon, 7th August. His sister was in time to say her goodbyes. I was with him to the end. He was calm and did not suffer at all.
I’m too upset to manage more than a short post, but I want you to know that we both have drawn huge support from all of his friends reading this blog.
Gillian
{ 69 } Comments
Dear Gillian,
Thank you for sharing this deeply painful news.
Chris was a wonderful person and a magnificent friend, whom I shall always remember with the greatest affection. My memories of Chris, and of your love for each other, are so very dear to me.
Your care of him through this dreadful journey has been outstanding, and deeply moving.
With much love,
R&F.
Dearest Gillian,
Chris was one of my most special friends. He was one of the friendliest and warmest people I’ve ever met on the world wide web. I wish I’d had the fortune to meet him in person.
Hugs. You are such a loving and caring person, and I will include you in my prayers everyday.
Lots and lots of love,
Neeru
It’s not unexpected but I am deeply sorry to hear that. He will be greatly missed by a large number of people.
Take care of yourself.
Lucy
I am so very, very sorry, Gillian. I hope that you can draw some comfort that he was peaceful and not in pain at the end, and that you were with him.
He will not be forgotten by all his friends at LibriVox, and his voice lives on with us.
I’m so sorry, Gillian. Chris was a wonderful man and an inspiration to everyone who read his blog, myself included.
Much love to you both,
Lindsay
I’m so sorry, Gillian.
We will all miss him so much. This is a very sad day at LibriVox.
Gillian, I’m so very, very sorry! We will miss him very much.
Take care and lots of love,
Elli
My deepest sympathies, Gillian.
Philippa
Dearest Gillian,
I don’t know what to write, I’ve re written this about 4 times now! Our thoughts are with you and we just feel proud to have known Chris and to have been a part of your lives. You know where we are if there is anything we can do
Lots of love and warmest wishes
J and Mike
Gillian
I am so sorry to hear that Chris has slipped away. At least he is at peace now, and had those whom he loved and who loved him with him.
Obviously anything at all that we can do, you only have to say the word.
Please take care of yourself
Sam xxx
I’m very sorry to hear of Chris’ passing. My deep sympathies to you and his entire family. Take care.
Betty
I’m so sorry to hear about this Gillian. Heartfelt thoughts to you and all of Chris’ family and friends.
Dear Gillian,
We’re really, really sorry to hear the news about Chris but also glad that he was at peace at the end.
If you need anything you know where we are.
Love Q and J.
Dear Gillian, our thoughts are with you at this sad time and we are so sorry for your loss of Chris, but are glad that he was at peace at the end. Your immense courage has been an inspiration to us all. With much love from Elly and family x
I’m so very sorry, Gillian. Chris was such a delight at Librivox and shall be greatly missed. You will be in my thoughts and prayers now and in the days to come.
Laura
Deeply sorry to hear this, Gillian. Our thoughts are with you.
Jayne & Rich
Gillain
So sad to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
Angela
So sorry to hear the news of Chris. I’m thinking of you Gillian.
love Bryony
Oh Gillian. I’m so sorry.
My condolences, Gillian and all of Chris’ loved ones.
Ryan
My condolence Gillian
So sorry
I’m so sorry to hear that Chris has passed. Chris just seemed so wonderful. I wish I had had a chance to meet him. My condolences to you Gillian and both of your families. You are still in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. My condolences to you, Gillian, and to his family.
Gillian,
I’m sorry. Thinking of you.
Seonaid
I was very sad to hear the news. The only comfort was to hear that Christopher’s passing was peaceful.
I am so pleased to have known Christopher although for far too short a time. A true character and wonderful chap.
My thoughts are with you all.
Paul.
I am so very, very sorry, Gillian.
David and I send our love and share in your sadness. We both loved Christopher.
Dear Gillian, I am so very sorry to hear the sad news of Chris. My heartfelt sympathy to you and both your families.
Janet
Our deepest sympathy to you and your families.
Andrew
Dear Gillian,
Our thoughts are with you.
Best,
Neil x
Gillian,
I’m so sorry. I am thinking of you. It seems so hard to say anything meaningful but I hope you feel comforted by all of our desires to express our affection for Chris and our greatest sympathy for you.
Fond memories,
Simon
Dear Gillian,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Doug and June
So sad, I only found out about all of this today, you have both been so brave to blog all this as it happened.
I met Chris at a TFTTF photographic get together and we had fun on the forums, I only knew him a little, but you could tell he was a big character, and a great bloke.
Many of us have never met, but we are thinking of you.
Simon
Love and prayers, and our deepest sympathy, Gillian. The courage you have both shown over this awful time has been amazing and inspirational. Thank you.
Gillian, I’m so sorry to read that Chris left us.
His courage and your courage taught us a heart-warming lesson about life.
I’d like to quote Chris’s letter (posted on 28 January 2010):
“Victories include the making of photographs, cooking and eating good food, and visiting and chatting with friends. These are real victories to me. They make me happy. They maintain my good mood. They make life worth living every day.”
My thoughts are with you.
Gilles
I’m so sorry, Gillian. Christopher had obviously decided it was time to go gentle into that good night, and gentle it seems to have been, largely thanks to your care of him. You have been such a support to him; take care of yourself now. Anne.
Gillian, David & I both send our condolences to you and Chris’s family.
Dear Gillian,
I am so sorry to hear the sad news of Chris’ death yesterday. My best wishes and kind thoughts to you, Chris and your family.
Love,
Liz
Gillian,
Sorry to hear this, thoughts are with you.
Paul
I’m so sad to hear this news. Gillian, we may never have met but please know that you and all those closest to Chris will remain very much in my thoughts as you come to terms with all that has happened.
I met Chris at a photography workshop a few years ago, and although it was a fleeting acquaintance from that point of view, it was a privilege to get to know him that little bit and later to stay in touch via various photography forums. I was very struck by his love of words, his gentle eloquence and his vast knowledge of all sorts of things, together with his charming ability to say something utterly logical and hilariously silly at the same time. He will be fondly remembered by many of us who met him on- and offline through our shared interest.
The candidness, strength and generosity that both you and Chris have shown through this blog have been an inspiration to many and have displayed a profound understanding of the value of life and how to make the most of it despite the most challenging adversity.
Thank you both.
God bless Chris, he is now out of his pain and suffering. I already miss him very much. We shared 2 years together on a challenging project where we became firm friends as well as colleagues. He used to sometimes tease me with his use of the english language of which sometimes i didn’t know what he was talking about! Far more intelligent than me. Even so. he was a delight to work with and a delight to have known. And Gillian, i only have recently got to know you and i hope that we can remain friends as well as colleagues too. You are an amazing woman and Chris was so lucky to have had your support. Please try to get some well deserved rest.
Love Jayne x
Dear Gillian
So sorry to hear the sad news about Chris.
We have been following the blog and have admired the way you both have handled the last months of his life.
You have been much in our prayers and thoughts and will continue to be so, for you and your future.
God bless
love from Derham & Ruth
Dear Gillian,
May God bless you and keep you strong at this difficult time. Chris will not be forgotten.
Many blessings and best wishes,
Nicholas (a friend at LibriVox)
“O my Lord! I myself and all created things bear witness unto Thy might, and I pray Thee not to turn away from Thyself this spirit that hath ascended unto Thee, unto Thy heavenly place, Thine exalted Paradise and Thy retreats of nearness, O Thou who art the Lord of all men!”
(Baha’u'llah, Compilations, Baha’i Prayers, pp. 42-43)
Dear Gillian
I’m very sorry for your loss. Chris was a very nice and helpful person.
I hope you and your family will stay strong together in these difficult times.
Nadine (another librivoxateer)
Christopher lived his life and faced his death with courage and grace. He found in his marriage the love, joy and fulfilment he deserved. My thoughts are with you, Gillian.
Oh, Gillian, I’m so sorry to hear the news. Too fast ! But the grace and frankness you both faced it with are are breathtaking. I only hope to be able to have a small fraction of it when it is my time. I’m thinking of you; here in northeastern New York Stat.
—-sue h
So so so sorry, Gillian. My thoughts and sincere condolences are with you. Zoe
Goodbye Chris. You were a true friend. A man of courage and curiosity, humour and humility, wisdom and warmth. I will miss you always.
Dear Gillian,
I am so, so sorry. Your strength and fortitude in sharing Chris’s challenges have been both moving and valiant. My sincere condolences and thoughts to you and to your family.
Terribly sad news; I will remember Chris as a clever man who embodied the true warmth of the human spirit.
Dear Gillian
Thinking of you
Graham
Dear Gillian,
So sad to hear your news.
The courage you have both shown as you shared your journey with us has been an inspiration to us all. You are very much in our thoughts and prayers.
Richard
Gillian,
I am so sorry to hear your very sad news. My codolences to you and your families.
Dave
Dear Gillian,
We have just returned to the UK to read the sad news. Through your blog we have been with you and Chris throughout these difficult months and will continue to be with you in the future. Your committed and loving care for Chris has been an inspiration to us all. It is our prayer that you will now know a deep peace as you reflect on the richenss of the life and the love that you have enjoyed together.
With all our love,
Tim, Sarah, Jamie and Emily
Gillian
Only just got back on line after the weekend
We are both very sorry to hear your sad news: you, Chris and your families are in our thoughts and prayers
Chris and Christine
Gillian
My deepest condolences to you and Chris’ family. The only comfort I can take at this time is that Chris died peacefully.
As so many others have already said, Chris was a wonderful person; friendly, warm, caring, helpful, the qualities too numerous to list.
I personally have found this blog inspirational. The courage and resolve you have both shown throughout this period is something to aspire to. Sharing Chris’ cancer fight with the whole web community, even though it must have been painful at times, I am sure will inspire others who find themselves in the same circumstances to keep fighting and be positive throughout.
What better legacy for Chris than for his trials and tribulations to help others after his passing.
David
A great loss to the world.
As long as I am alive, I will cherish the memory of Chris.
I’m sure he’ll live on in the hearts of all those who’s lives he touched.
peace be with you Chris, and your family.
paul
It is with great sadness to hear this news. Chris was a wonderful, lively person whom it was a great pleasure to know. Although I had not posted many comments in the blog he (& Gillian) were always in our minds. He leaves us with great memories and will not be forgotten.
All our best wishes at this difficult time.
Richard + Fiona.
Gillian,
So very sorry to hear this sad, sad news. Our deepest condolences to you and both families.
Chris was a someone I admired and respected, a kind and generous soul who will be much missed.
Dave
Gillian,
I only knew Chris through our interaction on the Tips From the Top Floor photography forums, but his kind personality always shone through his words. His photos of stuffed animal hounds (I think he called them the Gay Dogs) never failed to bring a smile to my face and his advice was always thoughtful and well received.
Please accept my sincerest condolences to you and your families.
Gillian,
Learnt today, with inexpressible sorrow, of this sad news.
We will always remember Chris’s wry and sparkling smile that never failed to lighten the gloomiest of moments. His humor, good nature and above all his vast intelligence that shone through without a trace of arrogance will ensure that he will be remembered fondly by all, like us, who were lucky and priveliged enough to have known Chris just a little.
You are very much in our thoughts
Steve and Lynne
This is such sad news. My condolances to you at this difficult time.
Paul
Gillian, I am so sorry. You must be very proud to read all these blogs full of love for Chris. The same words to describe him have come to many of us; his warmth and humour, his intelligence and natural curiosity and his great courage and honesty. No one could have done more for Chris than you have done all these months past. You are in my thoughts.
Gill
Dear Gillian,
I’m so sorry to read the news. Chris & I were on the Prospect Committee at the same time for a while. I recall that he had a knack for getting to the nub of a problem and summing it up neatly, often with great humour. He enjoyed helping people. His and your words in this blog will go on helping other people who find themselves in similar situations, I’m sure.
From what you have written, it is clear that you have been through so much recently with great courage. Somebody I know (a very logical chemist!) lost her husband to cancer in May, and she feels that he is still by her side helping her to find the courage through these difficult times. Thinking of you.
Tina
Dear Gillian,
I’m so very sorry. I didn’t know Chris that well but I know that you love him and his passing will be a massive loss not only to you but all your friends and family too. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mark
Gillian,
Chris was an active member of the Tips from the Top Floor community, and I had the pleasure to meet him on one of my photography workshops. It’s hard for me to find the right words, but I vividly remember being very proud of him when I came across his photography lighting experiments on his flickr stream. All my best wishes for this challenging time.
Chris
Dear Chris, goodbye dear friend. Thank you for your kind and caring support in darkest times and for your joy, intelligence and humour in happier ones.
We’ll all miss you so much.
Patrick and Christine
Dear Gillian
I was so sorry to hear your news. I have fond memories of the time I have spent with both of you. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Janice
For the past three years I have used Chris’ recording of the poem “Dulce Et Decorum Est” on librivox.org to teach my literature students World War I poetry. I clicked on his contact link on the site because I wanted to thank him for recording such a powerful reading of the poem; my students are always moved by his voice.
I was saddened to read that Chris died, but I wanted to let his family and friends know that his voice has held the attention of hundreds of my students thus far.
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