Chris was born in Wolverhampton and attended the Grammar School there. After A levels she went onto Manchester University where she gained firsts in two modules – Nuclear Engineering and Philosophy. As she put it;she knew how to build a bomb and also how to know better! It was here that Chris learned to ring.
After university she ventured into work for British Steel but, not content with a stable income and a steady job, she left and trained at Bath University to be a teacher. In 1982 she became a Teacher at the ‘George Ward’ school in Melksham and I shall always remember a Friday practise night when into the Ringing chamber came Chris, she had started teaching at my daughter’s school and Helen’s face (age 12) was a picture! Chris was her new science teacher. Of course after that we all became firm friends.
Chris joined the ringers at St Michaels and soon became a most useful member of the Sunday Service Band. She rang six peals from Doubles to Stedman Triples and Treble Bobbed to Major. Her last quarter peal was in 2011. She was also Secretary of the Devizes Branch SDGR from 1985 for four years. Rachael was born in May 1989 and Chris did us the honour of making us God-parents.
We shall miss Chris’s presence in St Michael’s Church, Melksham, she still kept interest in what was going on upstairs although unable to ring for many years due to ill health; our loss was St Michael’s gain as she has been our church warden for the last five years. Chris’s funeral took place in a packed church testimony of how much her friendship and love was valued. We send our love to Rachael and hope that she will keep in touch after our premature sad loss.
Christine Purnell
