Vanessa and I have been friends with Chris for a very long time, it seems like most of our adult lives. I first met him in our Union Office, we both were telecom engineers, in 1982 and we have been close friends and comrades ever since.



He was first and foremost a Trade Unionist. We were both Officers in our Union Branch in the City and North London and he was central to its organisation. We were a big, stroppy union branch and an activists’ organisation, spearheading the fight for a shorter working week, defending jobs, conditions and pensions against privatisation, and no strangers to all forms of industrial action. We were actively involved in the leadership of the struggles against Thatcherism that dominated the 1980’s. BT tried to victimise and sack us both on fake charges after our six week long national strike and, with solidarity from our comrades, we kept our jobs.



Chris joined the Labour Party and was Secretary of the Enfield Trades Union Council. He was a supporter of the Tribune Group within the party, and he was delighted with the recent revival of the magazine. He supported the campaigns against local government cuts, including the GLC and Lambeth, where he was born. He was a steadfast supporter of the Miners during their year long strike, and remained so until his death. He still had the memorabilia from that time in pride of place around his house.



It was his experiences as a Trade Unionist, the need to support individuals in hard times as well as the collective good, that informed his work as a Party member. For thirty four years he was an Enfield Councillor. During this time he had many successes both large and small. In Enfield Lock, in the 1990’s, as the local councillor he was central to the leadership of the campaign to address the toxic contamination of the land from the closed small arms factory, which was earmarked for housing. This was not a popular stance within the Labour Group but he picked the side of the residents, including the future residents, and the campaign resulted in a BBC Panorama special, a Friends of the Earth Booklet and changes to the UK regulations for the regeneration of brownfield sites. Estate regeneration, highways and amenities, licencing, environmental issues and parks, and most recently his advocacy for Cycle Enfield and Meridian Water all have benefited from from his vast accumulated knowledge and experience.



He was an environmentalist who was proud of Enfield’s wonderful parks and his role in keeping them top class including the new wetlands in Town Park. When he was Cabinet Member for Environment he was involved in the renovation of the Forty Hall Estate and was an enthusiastic supporter of the new organic Veg Bag service and the award winning Forty Hall Vineyard. He especially liked our wine!!



Austerity and LBE service reductions were very difficult for him, but he never shied away from the realities of his position. He was guided by a clear set of values and priorities, starting with the protection of the most vulnerable. He loved Enfield and was an ambassador for the Borough throughout his life.



He won elections. It was a privilege to have campaigned for him in first the Lock, then Ponders End and latterly in Southbury. Not only did he win, but he consistently increased his share of the vote. He always said there was no secret in this, just consistent work on behalf of the people he represented. No case work issue was too small for him and everyone was treated with dignity and respect and their issues fully supported. On countless occasions we would be in the pub, or on the train or on a night out, and he would be approached by a local resident. The little notebook came out, the details were duly noted and a promise to follow up made. And he actually did follow
up every single approach. He was just as cheered up by securing a
single housing repair as he was for the securing of a multi-unit housing renovation. Asked by his son Joe what his most memorable achievement was he said, without hesitation, Shopmobility. This is the scheme that transformed individual people’s life chances and that was top for Chris.



He had a passion for cricket, as a Scot this was beyond me. He gave up trying to explain the follow on rule to me despite multiple attempts. He was always loyal to his childhood football team, Spurs, and it was a source of great pride to him that his Son was involved in the management of the regeneration of their stadium. He had a large circle of friends who he was always there for, in good times or bad.



He had a wicked sense of humour. On the Wednesday before his death I said to him as I was leaving Don’t go to the George without
me. He couldn’t go anywhere. He smiled and said No,
b*******, I fancy a pint now, I’ll see you there. He
liked Frankie Boyle and shortly after his death I reached for the phone to text him to remind him to watch Frankie on BBC only to realise that he wasn’t there anymore.


He doted on his grandchildren and
was proud of his son’s professional career in local government. He had a big, bluff and bold personality but he was also a sensitive soul. He was always there for his friends with whom he shared
his love of music, both on social media and in person.



Vanessa, Chris and myself spent many a night at live gigs, especially in Union Chapel. He loved music and he would have welcomed any donations to keep this wonderful venue open. He himself made a substantial donation shortly before his death, so please follow on!



Pat Kane

30th July 2020