Chris was born on the 12th January 1952 to Eileen and Reg Bond, who at the time were living with Reg’s parents Ida and William Bond on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate in Kennington.  This situation became a little more “cosy” with the arrival of me, their daughter Anne, in December 1954.  Dad, who was working for the Midland Bank was offered an attic flat over the branch in Edmonton, which he took, sight unseen.  Don’t think mum was that impressed at the time, but it was a very happy home for us all.  We moved in early 1955, leaving when the Edmonton Green was redevelopment in 1970, to Cheviot Close, Enfield.

Chris and I both went to St. Edmonds Catholic Primary School.  While there Chris was an Altar Server, going to serve at the first Mass of the day as well as being an acolyte during the May Processions that were part of the yearly calendar and was a founder member of the Boys Club started by Freddie Quickfall.  We were always encouraged to help wherever we could, be it school fund-raisers, the summer fete at the Sisters of Charity convent, or go on visits with mum to deliver either a meal or shopping to a neighbour.  Chris started going to White Hart Lane with Dad & then later with friends, even allowing me to join him in the queue for the Boys Entrance, so long as I joined Dad as I was an annoying little sister.  He went to every game in the season of the great double in 1961/2, just missing out on a ticket for the final by not having quite enough ticket stubs.

Chris passed his 11plus and went off to St Ignatius in Stamford Hill, joining the Combined Cadet Force (no choice in that one) and developing his growing interest in music and sport.  In 1968, Chris moved with the school to its new site in Turkey Street, where he finished his education and then the following year joined the GPO as an apprentice telephone engineer in the exchange in Shoreditch.
Music was a great part of Chris’s life.  He bought a double turn-table and an amazing collection of vinyl, singles, EPs and LPs and was a successful DJ in his spare time.  He must have had someone else in this enterprise, as he couldn’t drive and never showed any interest in learning.  He really enjoyed all live music, big or small venues from  nights at the Cooks Ferry Inn seeing many a rock band before they became famous to seeing Bob Dylan at the Isle of Wight and the Rolling Stone’s in Hyde Park.

His interest in politics, he used to say, was a combination of being educated by Jesuits and getting involved with the work of the Union.  I am not sure when he became a fulltime Union Official, but I can tell you that I had to re-arrange the date of my wedding in 1984 as Chris would have been at the Trade Union Conference on the original date, and it was quite a year for the Unions.

It is for others to speak of Chris’s great contribution to the Enfield community through his work as a Councillor.  I can tell you that he was very proud that he was trusted enough by his constituents to be re-elected.  Mum and Dad, as long-time residents of Enfield, were also very proud of their son the Councillor.

Like all of us he had many joys and sadness in his life.  His son Joe and Joe’s three children, as well as his partner Lynn and the many trips they took provided great happiness.  The sorrow of Lynn’s passing ten years ago, as well our father six years later, and our mother’s decline into dementia was hard on us all.  All these things make us who we are. 

I will miss my brother; he could be irritating and was not always the easiest of people.  He was very single minded, some may say stubborn, but he cared.  I loved him.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Joe for his caring and being with Chris at the end. To Briony, Joe’s partner for her support of him and Elizabeth, John & Toby, their children, for the distraction that only children can give when life seems bleak.

Thank you for your indulgence if you have read this.

Anne Spencer - Chris’s little sister.