Our friendship survived school, enjoying a phase of bus-spotting which took us to all corners of London, supporting (and going together to watch) different cricket and football teams, going on holiday together and more recently weekly or more frequent telephone contact.  Chris was present at a pivotal moment in my life when, in 1967, he and I went to a party in Liverpool, and started chatting to a couple of girls, one of whom, Elaine, married me two years later (and to whom I am still married) with Chris as Best Man.  She appreciated his qualities as much as I did, and we both were indebted to him for his continued concern for our son Philip (his godson), and his sister Melanie.