CHRISTOPHER PEARCE -SUPER STAR First of all I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate Christopher's life today, taking time off work and travelling great distances to be here . I would also like to thank Christophers friends and family who can't be with us today but are here in spirit. We all think that we have it all planned, especially me as that's my job. The problem about planning is that things never go to plan. It was never part of the plan for us to be here today remembering Christopher's life. Christopher would often say to us “careful what you say I am the one that will be choosing your care home” sorry Son you have missed out on that. Over to you on that one Richard. Christopher was a performer, He was born on Wednesday 15th April 1987 at about 1pm, in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. There too things didn't quite go to plan then, the protracted labour ending in a forceps delivery with 11 assorted medical staff looking on. What a performance Tosh, as I used to call him. I wish I had sold tickets. So that was act one, and I still remember how proud I was phoning the Grandparents to tell them the news of the birth of their first Grandson. When Maureen and Christopher returned to our home in Holybourne the house was full of flowers and cards just like it is now. Maureen took some time to recover from the birth so it meant that I had to get my hands dirty, washing feeding and changing him. I lost count of the times he peed, poohed and puked on me. Things moved on and we moved to Bishops Waltham which was to be our home for the next 20 years. Christopher grew as babies do alongside our first dog Snoopy and they became good friends. Shortly after arriving in Bishops Waltham Christopher was joined by brother Richard. Growing up Christopher developed a love of trains particularly steam train and of course Thomas the tank engine. Christopher collected a large amount of Brio track trains and accessories it was nothing to come home from work to find the entire lounge covered with some elaborate track layout. Either that or lego. This love of trains was encouraged by visits to the Watercress line and the Dartmouth Steam Railway during holidays in Teignmouth. It was on one of these holidays that we had our first close encounter with Badgers, after being disturbed in the chalet we were renting one night we found that a Badger had been raiding our dustbin for scraps of food. Christopher being keen to get a better look at said badgers then refused to eat all of his breakfast bacon allowing Mr Badger a tasty meal each night. It was of course Dad who had to go out in the morning and clear up the mess. We then left Bishops Waltham for a time whilst I was working on the New Hong Kong International Airport. Christopher enjoyed life in Hong Kong, riding the MTR where he learnt by heart the Cantonese for please stand clear of the closing doors. He enjoyed travelling on the hover ferries from the Gold Coast where we lived to Hong Kong Central something his mum hated. Christopher's desire to perform manifested itself as he learnt to dance the Macarena with the Filipino maids that would congregate in the shopping mall. Ever since then given the chance Christopher would dance the Macarena. He went on a school visit to the Governor's House a few weeks before the Handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese. As the group were leaving the Governor Chris Patten returned and the group chatted with him and the Governor posed for photographs unfortunately Christopher was a bit rushed and cut the top of Chris Patten's head off. Christopher made several friends in Hong Kong prior to returning to Bishops Waltham. At this point I would like to read a letter from Mohit one of the boys Christopher went to school with in Hong Kong. My dear friend Christopher, I hope you are well wherever you are, safe and happy. It is difficult to process or believe that you are not around. Even though we haven't kept in touch all these years, I know the moment we would reconnect it would have been like we were just hanging out yesterday. I know I have lost a dear friend who I cannot share my stories with and hear yours. We had many a good times when we were kids, I still remember those good old days when we lived in Hong Kong Gold Coast. Though we cannot re-live those moments and we won't make new ones, I will always remember your joviality and your true friendship, you will be missed. Love, Mohit . One of those memories would undoubtedly have been at Christopher's 10th Birthday party, much of the time was spent in and around the pool where Christopher somehow managed to emerge from a dive with his swimming trunks round his knees. Not a pretty sight but if anyone wants a copy of the video it will soon be on YOUtube Christopher's desire to perform continued in school productions at Upham Junior school and ultimately led to his studying practical Theater and eventually working backstage at the Mayflower in Southampton. On leaving Upham junior School Christopher moved on to Kings School in Winchester. I wish I could say that Christopher had an outstanding time at Kings School in Winchester leaving with a hatful of GCSEs but Christopher was not cut out for the academic life. Although he took part in all the sports at school he did not have much interest in sports although he did join me at Medstead Cricket club when we were short of players. He would only have been about 13 or 14 at the time and playing up against grown men. He had a go and was well thought of by my team mates. His batting average is on record as Innings 4, not out 1, runs 4 highest score 4. Christophers real love at this time was Karate where under the instruction and guidance of Sensi Dennis and Sensi Carol he achieved Purple belt status at the Karate Club in Bishop's Waltham. Not only did he enjoy progressing through the belts himself but in his later years at the club he was to be seen assisting the younger club members. At this time he was also a member of the Mid Hants Railway Rangers, this was a group for young volunteers who wished to help out on the railway. This usually meant getting very dirty covered in oil or soot from head to foot. He loved steam trains and took me with him on a trip on the West Somerset Railway, well it was only fair as I was paying for it. As time came to leave school Christopher really had no idea as to what he wanted to do in life. By chance we saw an advertisement for an open evening at Southampton City College, where there was a course in Technical Theatre. This seemed like a good idea, a real mix of everything performance and backstage work. Christopher loved the performance and practical stuff but struggled a bit on some of the technical aspects. He showed me some of his work on sound and lighting, it had me baffled! Christopher enjoyed his time at the Mayflower mixing with celebrities including Jim Davidson, Craig McLachlan and Richard O'Brien. As a birthday treat he arranged for myself, Maureen, Christopher Gran Dawn and his Great Aunt Barbs to go backstage after the performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. That was the one with the flying car. He was so proud showing us around and explaining what he did . After our backstage tour he took us to meet the star of the show Craig McLachlan, for the younger ones here Craig used to star in Australian soap called Neighbors. A very nice chap he was too apparently he and Christopher would have impromptu jam sessions in their spare time between performances. When Christopher was not pulling ropes in the Mayflower he found time to help out at the local AmDram TOADS, the old Alresford Dramatic Society. Christopher told me he sorted out their sound and lighting and after watching one of their productions I think he did a pretty good job. So that just about brings to the Time of Christopher the Rock singer and Karaoke King. I think Pete has some stories to tell you about that. Before I shut up (and if you are all still awake) I would just like to add one more thing and that is to thank Maureen for producing and raising two wonderful and amazing sons.

I am free Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following paths God made for me I took his hand, I heard him call Then turned, and bid farewell to all I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to sing, to play Tasks left undone must stay that way I found my peace … at close of play And if my parting left a void Then fill it with remembered joy A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Ah yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened… deep with sorrow I wish you sunshine of tomorrow My life’s been full I’ve savoured much Good friends, good times A loved one’s touch Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and peace to thee God wanted me now He set me free. Anon

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