My
brother Chris was eight years old when I came into his world and looking up from my cot I saw a slim tall giant and I was thinking that I'd seen more meat on a butchers pencil l !! ( not that I would have known such a phrase at such a tender age ) straight away Chris adopted his big brother roll looking out for me. He always found time to take me to the park in the early years and as I grew up, he made sure I was happy and safe.
We lived in many houses and towns in
the early years but one that sticks in my memory about Chris was at 26 Carpenters. Chris was always had a passion for Electronics and our household always seem to have the latest electronic equipment and one of Chris's favourites was a reel to reel tape player. All three of us must have had imaginations beyond most as we invented and recorded, (the Conker Olympics', and (The Flatulent Competition to name but a few. After many rehearsals which meant picking up hundreds of conkers and reloading them into a cardboard box, then tipping them down the stairs again and again to record the noise, and then presenting the final take to our Mum, would have us all in hysterics and once again Chris was there to direct the show. The Flatulent competition, well I'll leave you guess what we had to do for this recording
When my
father died, I was 14 years old and Chris's life would take on a different role, as at the age of 22 *When he should have been enjoining his life to the full, he had to step up for me and my younger brother Phillip and become the man of the house.
He
contributed all he could into the house, which was enjoyed by our now reduced family, but we never fell short of anything.
The first
Christmas was going to be particularly difficult as both me and my younger brother Phil as we had been expecting new bikes and with my father passing earlier in the year this was looking very unlikely. However it turned out to be one of the best Christmases I can remember because on Christmas morning there were two magnificent bikes there for us. This was achieved by Chris helping mum to fulfil the promise made earlier 'that year.
After leaving school at 16,
with no Idea what I really wanted to do, Chris persuaded me to join him in the electronic industry and again took me under his wing at Southern Rentals and for three years he attempted to teach me about mending TV's. His patience was tested more than once especially when he allowed me to drive him around all day gaining valuable experience towards my forthcoming driving test. I can remember an odd smell wafting through the car more than once !!!
In my late teens,
Chris introduced me to a friend of his called Michael Baker who Managed The Imperial Hotel in Hove and with the Disco Equipment that Chris had built himself, I started to D.J there doing functions like weddings etc.
This was great for me but for Chris it was yet
another headache, when I constantly wanted more lights and sound, which of course he felt obliged to build for me. Yet again because of the love for tinkering, he created probably the best quadraphonic sound system ever to be heard at someone's 80th Birthday party, not be appreciated by some tipsy old, lavender smelling grannies and the likes !!!!
From this I moved on to working and opening some of
the best Nightclubs around England and on the opening nights, Chris was always there supporting me and we had many tipple to toast the celebrations ' Hic
Chris & Michael went on together to own a
Bed & Breakfast , Pub and The Dorset House Hotel. All these were very successful and they both worked very hard with their teams to create a great experience for their guests.
I'm sure all the
people who were lucky enough to meet and work with Chris will remember the great character he was and will have fond memories of their time with him.
In recent years, Chris settled down with his
partner Colin and they enjoyed good years together until Chris sadly became ill. Colin's role changed to caring for him which he has done superbly and we should all thank him for this.
There are so many
things that I could tell you all about Chris, but the one thing I am most grateful for is that when I looked up from my cot that fateful day, I was looking at the best older brother anyone could ever wish for.
Chris you never judged me and was always there for me no
matter what.
God bless you my brother, rest in peace.
Love
you always
Jonathan.