When I retired from teaching, Chris and Jennifer bought me a rather splendid tide clock which resides on the wall of my kitchen overlooking the sea. Looking at it today takes me back to the many enjoyable times I spent in their company whether at school, socially or with Chris having one to one computer lessons as I tried to get to grips with the concept that typing www. in front of almost any word would open up an unimaginable world of access to pretty well everything and anything. I shall remember him as a gentleman of great fortitude and feel fortunate to have known him.

I first worked for Chris at Fujitsu in, maybe, 2004 – sometime in that decade before many of us took redundancy in 2009. He always had a smile on his face and a rather wicked gleam of fun in his eyes! We had a great team under Chris and continued the Battlespace Management Meetings long after Fujitsu ended in the comfort of a London pub, which was testament to the team spirit that existed between us. I worked for Chris again, at Middle Temple, in 2011-12 and got to know him better in this smaller environment and we enjoyed many lunches in the historical dining hall. He was always the true professional, and it was obvious that he had a military background, but throughout he always had a great sense of humour and loved the fun of ‘battle’ with colleagues and business associates. He will be sadly missed and my deepest condolences go to Jen and family.

Our family first got to know Jen when the second of our children Louis joined her class almost 20 years ago and it was soon clear he had a lovely teacher with a bonus - her husband. Chris would come into school and I remember him making Pancakes with the class and Louis showing us a photo of him and 'Mr Suckling' in their stripy pinnies! Our next two children also went into Jens class and we would hear stories about Chris coming in to visit. We had much in common and became good friends and enjoyed socialising together. Even early on in his treatment Chris would have times when he felt poorly but would make a huge effort to attend music and art events we organised. Both Jen and Chris would visit openings at my gallery and Chris would chat in such an informed and perceptive way whilst telling me 'I know nothing about art but...I love that!' As I write this I can hear him saying it. During and after Covid restrictions Jen and Chris would often include my gallery as a stop on their walks and I would always have a chair parked near the door and we'd all have tea. It was one of my highlights. Our youngest Wilfie became the only one still at home and he'd enjoy chatting with Chris and being teased - because he'd joined the CCF and not the RAF at school! We will all miss him. He was a thoroughly decent man who never lost the twinkle from his eye.