Sad news indeed, and a loss to all the sites he put so much time and effort into posting on and promoting/sharing with others.
A great many will miss his help and, I say with respect, some will not miss the odd run-ins (for he was a man of plain speech and sometimes it did not always come across well in the printed word on forums, but I believe his intentions were always good and his heart was in the right place, even if there was ocassionaly upset/frustration caused to others). added: From comments made to me, perhaps some even knew a different side to Christopher than I and others here, and so feel differently about him than those posting. I respect this also, as none of us can ever truly know all sides of someone, but can only comment on the Christopher I came across, which is what I, and I trust the others, have tried to do.
He enjoyed poetry and once, in the early years of Rootschat, shared the following with me (no copyright, I believe, but please remove if found otherwise, although I think Christopher wrote it himself as from an old PM I note "Many thanks for your kind comments about the poem. Writing poetry is one of the other hats that I wear when I am able to find the time"):
The Daisy Chain
When tracing your family tree
Don't let your mind run free.
When you find out where they live
That area will have more to give.
Recall when you made a daisy chain
A daisy far away was not to your gain.
Sit in one place. Pick daisies all around
Then having covered that bit of ground
Move forward just a tiny little pace
Tis there more kinfolk you will trace.
Christopher truly seemed to love Family History and sharing/helping others. May this be a tribute to his life and speak volumes, that so many will instantly recognise his name on this sad post and feel, as has been said, that a friend (albeit in cyberspace) has been lost. No one, I'm sure, would have wished for him to die alone and we can only hope that he did not suffer.May he Rest in Peace.
