My beloved Chris passed away on 10th February 2008 after battling with cancer for the past five months. He was a talented musician and a wonderful artist, who spent much of his life dedicated to helping those less fortunate than himself. Above all, Chris was a wonderful partner to me and father to our children Sami, Janine, Victoria, Adam and Debbie. The loss we are feeling is immeasurable.
Chris was a person who touched the hearts of most people that knew him. It is tragic that someone with so much to live for, and with so much to look forward to, has had so many years denied him. We, his family, have received so many tributes and are aware that world-wide he has an established fan base, mainly through his music with bands such as John’s Children, Jook and Jet. This website has therefore been set up so that people all over the world can express their own feelings about him and remember one of life’s truly nice guys.
Marilyn Townson
Please feel free to leave any cherished memories, thoughts, or condolences using the reply form below.
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Godspeed. It was a pleasure to work with Chris, but what will last in my memory of Chris has nothing to do with the music that brought us together. I will remember Chris for taking his pesonal time to work for the disadvantaged youth of London and Chris the family man. The music remains as do the memories. Your thunderous spirit will be with all of those who were lucky enough to have known you.
Elvis Jook
Chris!
You finally proved it!
Only the good die young. But you were just too young.
And the biggest hitter I ever knew.
The most caring chap I ever came across in years of music.
I intend to “out” you in a book one day, to reveal that you were the best. And remain so. I will never forget our daily drives from Friern Barnet to the Rugby club for rehearsals. (or was it just for the soccer?) 3 years of me kicking you instead of the ball. The Blue Boar, Victoria’s et al. You are not gone mate! You are still a HUGE part of my life.
I am so very proud to have been your chum and to have played with you.
Now, wake up, smell the coffee and grab one for me!
Remember, it’s Hacker who’s writing this!
p.s. Try tightening up that snare. Sounds a wee bit loose.
Bar Billiards in Finchley soon? Bet you half a crown I beat you next time!
Ian.
So… It has come to this. ‘Bomber’ Townson has made his last sortie. For he and I, there will be no more debriefings in Berlin bars following successful recording sessions, no more frantic last-minute discussions of intricate drum parts in the kitchen of my Berlin apartment, no more trips to long-defunct British airfields and graveyards to soak up the ambiance and to detail the strategy. If Chris explained carpet-bombing and ‘creepback’ to me once, he explained it a thousand times and I still haven’t quite got it.
We have been friends for over 30 years. We were locked up in jail together for damaging a municpal flowerbed, our most infamous album was recorded as a bass and drums duet, our mutual fascination with aviation marked us as ‘other’ in the eyes of our fellow musicians, our fascination with history – especially with Nazi horror, we are British after all – ensured our interminable exploration of Berlin when we were actually supposed to be recording. Our shared sense of the ridiculous caused, most recently, loud cries from neighbouring German apartments requesting that ‘English, please be quiet!!’ as Chris, his daughter Janine and I revoiced a German-dubbed John Wayne movie at 03.00 am.
Oh, well, it could be worse. We could all be condemned to live life without ever meeting people of comparable and compatible philosophies, with whom you can begin to throw a little light upon the murky thing we call existence. And that would be worse. Much worse. So, for that, and for all the other stuff, I am grateful. For ‘Bomber’ Townson, the war is over.
Martin Gordon
Tribute to Chris Townson, 1947-2008
I first met Chris Townson on the 6 June 1993 when he came to our committee meeting as an interested Stoatley Roughian. He immediately made an impression on all the committee members as a former student who cared very deeply about Stoatley Rough School. From this point Chris joined the committee and contributed to the committee’s vision to get our story heard and out into the public domain. This culminated in the exhibition in 2004 at Haslemere museum to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary in which Chris played a very big part.
Although I never knew Chris at Stoatley Rough School(STRS), as I left at Easter 1958, Chris arrived in September 1958 and was a student there till the school closed in1960. He had been sent to this school by the London County Council who felt that Chris would benefit from the schooling offered at STRS. His two years at the school had enabled Chris to find a home which had been fragmented previously in London. This small community (there were never more than approximately 70 pupils at this school – a third boarders and two-thirds day pupils in the later 1950s) became very important to Chris’s character building and emotional development. This is an experience that all former Roughians agree helped them in their later life, including Chris. As well as this the school was situated in the most beautiful and idyllic surroundings; 750 feet above sea level on the Surrey Downs, with views from the top of the hill and from the main school house into the valley and the opposite hills – on a clear day one could see as far as Chanctonbury Ring. This magnificence countryside and its association with the school was to remain dear in Chris’s memory and he would often go down to Haslemere (often with his daughter Victoria and sometimes with other Stoatley Roughians) and walk on the downs visiting his childhood haunts, taking photographs, sketching the school before it was sold to developers in 1995. I have contributed some photos which Chris took and a few of his sketches on his memorial web-site.
When Chris joined the committee we all felt that we had known each other for a very long time, we had so much in common, despite being at the school at different times – pre war, during the war and post war. We were bound by the principles of the school which were enshrined in the school’s badge. A pyramid, surrounding three interlocking rings depicting the three religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, taken from the play Nathan der Wise, G.E. Lessing’s great eighteenth century plea for religious tolerance. The pyramid representing Goethe’s justification for his existence; starting from a firm base, climbing up one side towards the apex, while, all unseen, the external world is ‘growing to meet him’ on the other side. These principles helped to shape our understanding of our own lives, including Chris’s, of a journey from a firm base (in this case the environment and education at STRS) to meet his destined path, the rigours and joys of adulthood. Chris was truly a man who held these principles as he was a tolerant, compassionate and loving person to all who knew him. I have included a photo of Chris’s school badge on his memorial web-site.
Chris was passionate about STRS and what it stood for. The fact that it had continued under the patronage of the Ockenden Venture after 1960, helping disadvantaged refugee children from all over the world, inspired his commitment in helping damaged and angry young people in society today. In those early days of the committee he took great interest in the sale of the school (1994-1995) which had become known as ‘Quartermaine’ House. The committee had debated about how we might be able to save the school for some useful and purposeful idea but without funding or sponsors we were unable to take this further. Chris wrote a report in 27.4.95, to our then chairman, Franceska Rapkin, which included this comment:
‘From a personal viewpoint, whilst acknowledging a new development with more
than a passing resemblance to Stoatley Rough School is better than dereliction and decay. I have to admit to more than a passing feeling of sadness that the notion of somehow collectively preserving Stoatley Rough, for continued use as a refuge and place of peace and security, seems to have sadly slipped away’.
However, Chris’s memories of the school have not slipped away, as he photographed and sketched it many times and generously gave some of these to members of the committee and other interested Roughians. He illustrated ‘Stoatley Rough School 1934-1960’ a short history booklet that I and Michael Johnson produced for the 60th Anniversary Reunion in 1994. A collaboration which continued and flourished. We worked together on the exhibition at Haslemere museum, in 2004. He used his artistic talents to suggest how we could set out the exhibition, considering light, breadth, space and impact to the viewer. He exhibited all the artefacts in a purposeful and logical manner. His contribution to this event made it the best ever reunion we have ever held and very memorable for all who attended.
I learnt a lot about Chris over the years and how interested he was in former Roughians, empathizing with them, appreciating their dilemmas and sharing experiences. But most of all I learnt about a very talented person who was fun, caring, and loving and whose interests went beyond STRS. My lasting impression of him was that he was a talented musician; talented illustrator; very loving family man; dedicated social worker and most of all a very special friend. I will always remember you Chris.
Katharine Whitaker
Chairman, Stoatley Rough School Historical Trust
February, 2008.
Chris, my memory of a wonderful man
I first met Chris at a Stoatley Rough School reunion in 1994. I was there as a supernumerary, married to Katharine who like Chris was an ex-pupil at the school. Over the following years I met Chris, usually at our house in Bushey on a Sunday where we sometimes hosted the School’s Historical Trust committee meetings.
I was there as a bystander who helped with tea and coffee making and washing up. Over the years I got to know Chris, usually talking about this and that as he waited for a cab. Sometimes these conversations were for a short while, sometimes longer and on a few occasions turned into more coffee and perhaps a brandy or two. The topics of conversation were many and varied, often with Chris’s interest in the R.A,F of the Second World War to the fore. He was a good listener and I came to realise that here was a kind, thoughtful and thought provoking compassionate man with many talents, always able to find time for other people.
Chris and Katharine’s birthdays were very close and in 2007 he came to Katherine’s 60th birthday party, held at a local restaurant in Bushey. Over the next several days many of our friends, both male and female who had met Chris just the once and for a few hours kept asking me who was that wonderful man? I told them, that was Chris, and they were right, he was a wonderful man.
I deeply regret his passing, he was loved and will be missed by many and will never be forgotten.
Jim Whitaker
Bushey
February, 2008.
Some Thoughts on Chris Towson’s Death
I first met Chris some 15 years ago, shortly after I had luckily come into contact with former Roughians again. It was Stoatley Rough that had brought us together, Stoatley Rough and what it meant and what it had given to both of us, a central experience that had given a deep imprint upon both our lives.
When Chris had first come to Stoatley Rough I had already left the school; nevertheless there was so much in common in what we remembered, and sharing our memories seemed to bring these memories to life the more we shared them. For Chris, Stoatley Rough school had become his ”home”, something he said he had known from the very first day he had arrived there. With me, this was somehow differently at first, and only after a number of years I had begun to fully grasp the significance of my two years stay at Stoatley Rough. Talking to Chris about Stoatley Rough, sharing our respective memories brought me even closer to that knowledge and increased my deep feeling of gratitude to have been given this fundamental chance in my life. Thus, thinking of Stoatley Rough made me always think of Chris as well ever since, and of what I was able to revive, re-experience and re-evaluate while talking to him.
This basic feeling was enhanced even more when three years after we had first met I suffered the loss of my first wife. A greater number of former Roughians, – Chris, of course, was amongst them, – had kindly offered their personal sympathy, strength and support. I remember going down to Haselemere with Chris, walking through the town, up Farnham Lane, crossing the Commons to Hindhead and back to take a final view of the Stoatley Rough building that was undergoing a fundamental process of restructuring then. Walking and visiting the places that were so familiar to us, talking with Chris in a very personal way both made me feel, in spite of the bereavement that I had suffered shortly before, not to be at loss, to be held and supported by friendship, in a way that made me somehow feel fully ‘at home’, an experience for which I shall be eternally grateful.
When I heard of Chris’s desperate state of health I was totally shocked. Much of what he had shared since I first had met him resonated in me and revived the memories of what we had shared. This was most intensely on February 10th when I was thinking of Chris all day long, hoping and wishing that he would not unduly have to suffer.
I, we all have lost a very dear friend! His friendliness, his warmhearted personality has left an everlasting impression upon all who met him. We shall all miss him.
Ludwig Haesler
There are only a handful of truly outstanding, gifted musicians in our lifetime that we can point to as an example, when talking about a particular instrument. Chris was one of them. My daughter, who is a 15 year old drummer, has grown up surrounded by great music and developed a love for the drums a few years ago. Among the drummers she will listen to and say “that’s good- really good” are Buddy Rich and Chris. His performances almost command one’s attention to be silent, just listen, absorb and enjoy.
Knowing he was a kind man who loved his wife and family only makes him shine brighter than the star I already knew he was. The world will truly miss him, but he will live on through his children, his artwork and his music. I am thankful we have that to always remember him by and cherish. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and all who knew him, whether personally or through his work, he will not be forgotten.
Thank you, Chris, for giving us so much.
A Tribute to my Boss Chris……a fellow Yid
Truly the nicest, kindest, laid back man ive ever met and more importantly a fellow Yido….Still finding it hard to believe that you are no longer with us… you were the heart of the Phoenix Project and now the heart is no longer beating it seems fitting that the project comes to an inevitable close. Although we will no longer be seeing your physical presents you will live on in our memories and in the continuous work we do with young people and children in the future. You have influenced me in a big way with your unique rapport for young people and the empathy you showed through your work practises. I have love my time at the project and you have play a big part in that.
I appreciate the time you spent with me…i’ll remember our conversations…..Thanks for making me laugh….the story about the old bloke stealing your covers still makes me laugh…. Chris i will miss you loads.. but you will always be with me when im watching our beloved Spurs and when im listening to Pink Floyd…. sorry im mean John’s Children.
Rest in peace gentle man x
Veniece
Chris it was pleasure knowing and working with you. I can recall many a “supevision” session when we should have been talking about work; what went well, what still needed to be done (which was often a lot) and what had been finished. Whilst the intent was there these sessions were often hi-jacked by our conversations on trying to put the world to rights and what we wanted to do in our own personal futures. I am so sad that your dreams for you and Marilyn were cut short.
I think what I will always remember is me trying to get the job done and you always managing to remind me about the young people with whom we were working, your dedication to them was exemplary . The result of this dedication was that I was usually able to justify why something hadn´t been done (like the business plan you managed to delete off the system because a young person required your attention!). All credit to you Chris for not letting the red tape get in the way of the real work.
You will be sadly be missed by all those who knew you, rest in peace.
Having learned to play the drums in 1977 and also become a fan of Radio Stars, the following year saw me discover John’s Children, Jook and Jet. To my amazement all three bands featured the same drummer, plus he happened to play on Radio Stars’ debut single as well !!
I dread to think at all the hours I’ve spent over the years listening to Chris and trying to work out a drum beat, or a drum fill !! I remember taking a cassette of the Jet song “Start Here” to my drum teacher around 1980 and asking him to show me how to do this drum fill (it comes in at 1.06 mins). I must say that Chris was my biggest influence.
During the late 80’s I was lucky to attend a birthday party Chris was having. They say ‘never meet your heroes’, but to have met Chris that night, seen him play live for the first time (his band did a gig that night), he just blew me away with his personality, as well as his playing. Throughout the following years we became very good friends sharing the love of sport and art, as well as music.
When Chris reformed John’s Children in the early 90’s (as well as joining Radio Stars in 1992) it was so enjoyable watching him play drums because you never knew what he was going to do…………….maybe he didn’t either !! But there was always something to learn from every gig.
I always found Chris very approachable, very warm and interesting to talk to. I always felt very comfortable in his presence because we both enjoyed a good laugh. To be able to call him a ‘friend’ made me so happy and very proud.
Chris was one of the best drummers around, no doubt about it. He will always have a very ‘special’ place in my heart and in my mind too because I have so many wonderful memories of him.
The ‘Master’ may be gone and I will miss him dearly……………………but his drumming will always live on.
Steve Wright
My memories of Chris.
Although we played music together in a band for a while, my main memories are not the playing but the other stuff. Buying a drum kit together, converting another one, moving a load of boxes and kitchen units to Sussex in the van, and of course long debates about football. On this subject of course Chris was rather misguided.
What was a South London boy doing supporting Spurs anyway? He must have been as pleased as I was gutted with the League Cup semi final result.
He told some interesting stories but you had to press him to get the full story, it seemed matter of fact the mad times in the biz. He’d played with The Who, jammed with Jimi, how cool is that?
Anyway, my heart goes out to his family and all his other friends, see you Chris
Love Colin Dean
I met one of lifes genuine characters when I started working with Chris at the Pheonix Project in Hatfield Herts, he would explain (with a grin) “rules are flexable” and if you cant flex them just ignore them and deal with later!! (er red tape!!). He was an extemly funny man either chasing lost snakes wearing huge gloves and short sleeves (with that stupid grin) or laughing when he should have been managing in his role as my Scheme Manager . We spent about 10 months working together (mostly) laughing (ask about the microwave and the Snakeskin) which I will treasure for the the remainder of my days. I miss him more than I thought. An absolute honour to have him as my friend. I was so lucky to see Chris play those famous drums on his last gig sadly in May 2007 then meet with his daughters, The next night to see a Blues band in London with him, great treasured time spent with a good friend. I last saw Chris at his birthday party but spoke with him a few times since even in the week before he left us.
Chris had his funny side but he was a truly proud family man, he has an amazing family so loving and caring he told me many times how much he loved them beyond recognition which always made me smile.
In a very selfish way I have lost a very good friend but understand what this man meant to people including his work with young people he has inspired me to continue in this field where I try to continue the way he did making a difference
Chris will be missed………………………..
Dear Chris,
We will miss you and your gentle ways.
You were a great Father, Husband and Friend.
I look forward to being together again soon
Where there will never be any more goodbyes.
Until we meet again, I will think of you with love.
With tears and remembering the family with tender feelings,
Bernadette
The first time I met Chris and Marilyn was when I flew from the USA over to Germany in 1992 to see their JC reunion in Darmstadt. I was there early helping the sponsors set up the venue and helped them set up the stage. I spent several hours with Chris and Marilyn and after the gig, stayed out all night with everyone chatting and having a great time and totally messing up my jet lag, lol! Chris was an absolute cool guy and we corresponded a couple times and I managed to meet up with him at a couple of Bolan Bops since then. What a gift that Chris was an even better human than he was a musical icon.
He and Andy were the first people I ever met that had personally worked with Marc Bolan, one of my musical heroes. One of the things I talked about with him about was how I had long thought that his assertive drumming was something Marc and Tony Visconti tried to build back into the T.Rex sound when they brought Bill Legend on board. Chris never got his due as a drummer, IMO. He shared many great tidbits about his musical experiences and that night has remained one of my most treasured ever. As we parted, Marilyn jotted down their contact info and they encouraged me to ring them up if ever made it to their neighborhood. Of course the next time I came over, I tried but could never make the bloody British phones work! I still have the note of course.
Chris has provided me with much joy, not only with his musical work, but with his extreme kindness and appreciativeness that I hopped the pond just to see them play that night. Ever since then, every time I spin the JCs, the Stars, Jet, Martin’s mammal projects, etc I think back to Darmstadt ’92 and hear the musicality, the passion, and the fun going into the rhythm section thanks to Chris. We all only get to rent our space here for a while, sigh. So sorry his lease came up too soon. Lots of loving thoughts and vibes are going out to Marylin and his family.
Rest easy,Chris…you will never be forgotten.
I only knew Chris for a short while but I am just so glad to have worked with him .
After spending time in supervision with Chris (I was his line manager at NCH) I always left feeling better about life and work.
Chris was never very interested in completing the ‘important’ organisational tasks that may have been bothering me but he always, always, always put a huge amount of thought and effort into encouraging the young people he worked for to think for themselves and to think well of themselves.
That was his real job and he did it brilliantly.
I have a feeling that I was lucky to have come accross somone who knew what was truly important.
David Elliott
Dear Chris
How sad I am that we never actually got to meet. Working with your friends and hearing their many anecdotes of ‘Chris’ moments make me feel as if we’ve been friends for a long while – I guess thats a measure of their great love for you. Its all gone very quiet all of a sudden. Thank you for all the music youve left to remind us of you. It is, like you, irreplacable. Sleep soundly….
Kev
Chris, you were one of the funniest people I have ever met. You looked after Jonny and I when we were going through the most difficult part of our lives, you made it bearable with your terrible stories about killing snakes and other tales of your adventures as a young lad.
Our Harriet loved and and the very mention of your name brings that famous quote of hers – “Fat tummy”.
Chris, I miss you.
Sorry – that should have read
Our Harriet loved you etc.
Trust me to make a mistake in something this important.
As neighbours of Chris in Barnet, we are so sorry to hear of his passing and our thoughts are with his family. Although we didn’t know him well, everyone spoke so highly of him … and the cats picture which he drew for his next door neighbours, and still hangs on their wall, is just so fantastic and witty.
I did not know Chris personally, but have many friends who did, and who are all devestated by his passing. From what I have heard, the world has lost an amazing guy.
Best wishes and much love to all his family and friends.
R.I.P Chris
EJ
x
Leaving a heritage and memory of such goodness and kindness
Can only be a measure of Chris’s success in life.
My Buddy traveller.
My fellow Boxhillian (school).
My house brother.
Chris and I shared many great experiences and memories.
While at Box hill School we hitched-hiked to Scotch Corner over the.
Half-term just to see if we could get there and back before school restarted (we did).
We hiked Snowdonia together to get our Duke of Edinburgh award.
We got fired together on our first job at the Goblin factory in Ashtead.
We canoed down the river Rhone in France and partied with Club Med crew.
We went clubbing in Guildford and at the Blusette Club in Leatherhead.
We scootered as (Mod”s) to the coast.
Chris and I have left many footprints together we had lots of adventures and great memories.
He was a good buddy and I am proud of him and so too my family in Leatherhead especially my
Mother who always believed in Chris through thick and thin. She had good reason.
Take care Chris see you in our travels.
Steve Beddoe.
Chris,
My main man and pillion on the back of my 1200cc bike. One Journey you melted your boot and lost a contact lens.
In your brown bomber jacket and visor less helmet ( Just sun glasses how cool is that!!) You wouldn’t know he was there.
“just go for it Rob” we streaked our way through the country side. We would get off at the other end and say “that was great” I am sure it reminded him of flying!
On the same journey in my “chip car” (yes I ran a car on veg oil to Chris’s great amusement) He would fasinate me with his wonderful stories from rock stars to air fields.
My dear footballing friend how we would spend time disecting Spurs/Plymouth Argyle/ Barnet/Luton town scores. (Chris’s/Mine/Chris’s local team/gregs teams) and get frustrated at the rubbish england would churn out! Give them Chris he would of sorted them out..
The nicest most caring and giving man you could wish to meet.
A friend and a colleauge.
Gregg Perry
I met Chris when he arrived at the projectin 1999 as a student. I was given the task to induct Chris. I thought to myself Chris certainly did not come a cross as a student, and why would he be interested with working with vulnerable,challenging, behavioural young people between 16-21 year old.
We discovered that Chris was a rebel too…….! Chris was possessed with some of the rarest qualities: True empathy, devotion,and the belief that it was never to late to leave an positive impact in peoples lives.
On behalf of the team from the Phoenix and the hundreds of young people you have influenced and made a difference, we bid you a massive farewell.
Your Deputy
Gregg and the crew
xxxx
My Saviour
I first met Chris when I was 16 years old, I was angry,confused, lost and a scared little girl, Chris took time to talk to me and work with me and help me to be a better person. I didn’t have contact with my family and I had Chris he was my family. He told me what I was doing was wrong and show me how to put it right, hewas a loving and kind hearted man and was always there to help me no matter what was going on or happening in my life. No matter what I would do he was there and showed me he cared.I wasin th Phoenix project for a year and was ready to move into my own flat, he helped me furnish it and gave the confidenc to become independent.
Chris would never admit it , but he treated me differently to everyone else, well I liked it because it made me feel special. I recently been doing a computer course to help me get a better job and Chris helped me to get some funding for a new computer and in turn I passed all my exams and got my computering qualification and hewas so happy.
I am working in Tesco head office and believe that Chris helped me get there and helped me to be the person I am today. Without Chris’s help I would still be that lost scared angry little girl but now I am a strong independent woman thank you Chris.
Chris will always have a place in my heart and will never be forgotten, You made a massive difference to my life and that is unforgettable
Yours Truly
Your number one girl
Jenny Cordess
Marilyn
I am Receptionist at Eastern Region office in Swavesey and only met Chris a few times when he came here for meetings. I too am a child of the 60s but I am fortunate to still be here at 60. My heart goes out to you and your family, and the tributes have reduced me to tears. I am so sorry for your loss, cancer is such an indiscriminate curse. I retire next month, and had decided that this year, because I can, I will hold a Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in September. Money raised will be donated in Chris’ memory and that of a very dear friend who also lost the battle with cancer without even reaching 50.
Please know that you are all in my prayers.
Jenny Robinson
All the testimonies given on this page speak volumes about a man, who was so much more than just a drummer of a very infamous 60’s rock band… It’s so lovely to read real stories from people who had close contact with a man, who obviously touched the lives of a lot of people, way outwith the shallow confines of popular music..
Once again a lot of sadness has fallen on the Bolan world with Chris’s premature passing. Though genuine heartfelt feelings of love and compassion are being sent to Chris’s family from all over the globe.
Andy Gardner
A brilliant man & musician, who has left us far too soon. These tributes show that there was more to Chris than met the eye. He will be sadly missed.
My own special memory of Chris was the night he trusted me to play his drums at the Camden Underworld. I still have those drumsticks!
With love to Chris and all of his friends & family, with sincere condolences, from all at the OMBFC.
In our thoughts & prayers,
Susu
Chris…Dad…Golligar…friend…and fellow Spurs supporter. You truly were, and in my heart and mind still are, a remarkable and genuine man that will not be forgotten.
I will always remember your devoted passion, your warm heart and your soft smile. Your passion for life, love and family far surpasses anything I would hope to achieve, if I could be half the man you were, I’d be a very happy man indeed.
I raise a single malt on the rocks [yours was always neat] to celebrate the life, love, family and friendship that we shared. Here’s to you…
Good bye for now.
x
So sad to hear that at at young age you were cut short of life so unfair, its sad too for the ones who are left behind family friends etc r.i.p dear Chris & your up there will all the greats rock on
thoughts & prayers to all
Val xxx
As Marilyn mentioned :…
‘one of life’s truly nice guys’.
A top bloke indeed !
……..and sadly missed !
Chris.I will miss you as I remember that we had a great time and lots of fun during the 2000 tour and thank you for that.
Hope you rest in peace and I wish the family all the best.
Robin Venhorst.
My Manager Chris,
If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane,
we would walk all the way to heaven, to bring you back again, no farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
Our hearts ache in sadness and secret tears will flow why we had to lose you know one will ever know.
I will never forget the afternoon last summer that I drove you home and you pointed out a sign by the roadside and told me someone had hopped out of their car and painted ‘ above the E in Barnet making it read Barne’t that really tickled you! esp when I suggested it was really you that had done it, that was funny.
Rest in peace Chris
You are so sadly missed
Karen x
So Sorry for your lose..I never met Chris but we e-mailed ….He was such a coool Dude!!!!..Didn’t even know me but told me sooooo much….I am still sick over his sad good-bye…BUT …He is joining a Great Rock N Roll Heaven band now!!!!!!!….MIss him…PattyNJ
I work for NCH Eastern Regional Office and therefore met Chris through work. He always made the office light up when he visited for his meetings with Rob and David, what is mostly a very quiet office, was transformed into an office that was buzzing and jolly when Chris came to Swavesey.
Chris will be sorely missed by all the staff here at Swavesey, and our thoughts at this time are with his wife and children.
Sleep well Chris.
Helen xx
The best boss I ever had. The greatest, most interesting person I ever met.
I wish I’d known you longer than just three and a half years, it simply wasn’t long enough to cram in all your stories about playing/refereeing footie matches, running night clubs, being at boarding school, designing Christmas cards, Berlin, playing in bands, running the Phoenix – the list is endless.
“You will be missed” is always written when someone leaves us, but you really WILL be missed by everyone who knew you.
Jenny
x x
Dear Chris,
It was a privilege knowing you. You were a good boss and flexible in many ways. When I first joined the Phoenix project, it was my first job since I left my other part-time jobs. You were so warm and understanding and you remind me of my late Dad at times. I will never forget the day when I came in for the first time on my maternity leave with William after his birth. You gave me the warmest hug, glad to see me after my experience of William’s birth. On the days that I misses my Dad, the memory of your warm hug will perk me up. You were always concern over me and my family. You will be sadly missed.
All our love,
Bee, Andy and William Kadir-Buxton
We are very very sorry about it!!!
Although Chris and I had never met, it is obvious to me that he was one hell of a human being, and a great musician. To the Townson family, please accept my condolences. Steve Parry…….
As a teenagers in the mid-1970s, four of us in a band called The Rage were obsessed and inspired by John’s Children. Thanks so much, Chris, for so many fantastic hours we had listening to your beats escape from the speakers.
Of course, we also loved Chris in The Jook and Jet (what is it with the “J” names?), as well as later on Martin Gordon’s recordings.
Reading these messages, we also see that Chris was a fantastic person.
All we can say to Chris is “Thanks!” and to his friends and family, our condolences.
Don, Sue, Paula (RIP) and Robin
With fond memories of a true gentleman who always made me smile whilst he tried to avoid some of the ‘red-tape stuff’ that I needed back at the office.
You positively touched the lives of many Chris, what an epitaph!
Delia
Performance & Information Officer, NCH
God Bless – your music lives for ever – mammal trilogy fan .
A truly family man as well as the heart of any band. I missed you for thirty tears and miss you now but am so grateful to have caught up again recently through MG.
I was neither close to Chris nor can I pretend to have special insight into his character, but it was clear enough on several occasions in Berlin – the only place where I knew him – that he was gentle, funny and kind. I was distressed, when I heard about it from Martin Gordon, at Chris’s condition, and his passing is very bad news indeed. Fond memories of long, and sometimes (very mildly) boozy Berlin nights.
James Woodall
I have to be honest, i still cannot believe that this is true. Chris was my shift partner a few years ago. I loved to listen to his stories over toast and coffee after all the young people were in bed.. when he described the school from his childhood i felt that i had been sat on the end of his bed, i too had heard the owls and walked the countryside. So many stories shared.
Not only was he interesting he was interested in other people – saw their potential and their value. Generous and genuine. A light shone from him and he left you feeling that not a minute of his life was wasted, crammed with things he was working on or had captured his interest. He made you feel you had not wasted his time. Even when i moved on i somehow felt that the world was ok because he was in it and part of my brain and heart cannot believe that he is not here.
the world will seem a colder and duller place…goodbye Chris x
I
Chris could be so gentle and easygoing, it fooled people. They often didn’t realize how steely he was underneath, nor how totally together.
I last met up with him in the late 70s, but when I read things by people who’d only met him later in life, it was very much the same Chris I knew from the 60s and 70s. There were so many extraordinary things to remember. Like when he cut his wrist on a cymbal in the middle of a set so the blood spurted out over the snare drum. It was at some God-awful John’s Children gig in Peterborough – or was it Harlow? Or Stevenage? Instead of letting me rush him off to hospital he insisted on playing to the end of the set, the snare getting more and more covered with blood. Chris was thoroughly enjoying himself – laughing as he played, hitting the drum harder than ever, making the blood splash over Andy as he pranced around in front of him.
Then there was the time he stood in for Keith Moon on a Who tour after Keith broke a leg. No-one had ever done that before and the Who thought nobody could. But Chris amazed them with his ability to fit in. Without rehearsal, he joined them for the last five days of their UK tour and most of the audience didn’t realise it wasn’t Keith.
He had a brilliant sense of humour too. He could draw devastatingly funny cartoons and when John’s Children broke up, we went off to Egypt together to sketch out a script for an animated movie we’d dreamt up – about a truculent camel called Cyril. Our research took us to the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and the creepy back alleys of Luxor. But in the end the script was never finished – every time Chris drew a new sketch we laughed so much we forgot where the plot was meant to go next. But what a great holiday!
And what a great friend!
There are stories from thwe photos of Chris as a child.
He was my friend, then. We met again, briefly but wonderfully, as adults when my family and I came back to England to visit.
as I was saying…..
Chris befriended me. I must have looked lonely, the new boy on a train full of old friends.
My first time from home… off to boarding school, Stoatley Rough.
He remained my friend throughout my sojourn at the school.
We shared so many adventures.
The collection of schoolboys posing on a moonscape of dust were, left to right, Richard Graham, Pete Jahans, Chris himself – complete with the only tin hat _ no one ever questioned Chris’ right to wear it – , David Berry, Graeme Klinkert and John Ebosi.
The moonscape of dust what was left of the tennis court.
The picture of Chris seated at a table and looking slightly alarmed was when I whipped out the camera and took a photo. We were supposed to be studying. Photography was not on the curriculum and would have resulted in a swift bat to the ear-hole and confiscation of the camera.
We’d also just been debating whether there was enough light to get a picture. I had to find out, took the photo, and Chris was delighted when he saw it half a century later.
It was his only formal portrait photo of his childhood.
In those days we didn’t worry about exchanging histories. I had no inkling of the sad lot life had meted out to Chris. Not until we’d met as adults and were sitting round sipping medicinal brandy, did Chris tell me of his beginnings.
I felt a strange pang of guilt. He spoke of the work he did with similarly savaged children. The victims of unfit parents. The lonely, the alone. Like the little boy on the train.
I felt a surge of intense affection for Chris at that moment. I feel it now… as though he’s with me. Guess we can all feel that.
The photo of Chris and the shovel was posed purely to get Ann Denny in it. She was a honey. All the young boys in the photo, and the one taking the photo, were ardent and superbly deflected, admirers.
Here you should know that the camera was mine, it was my first, and that probably explains why it never took a picture of me.
The other photos in the album here show our Chris in other stages of his adventure.
If he had no family at the start of his life he certainly has a huge family now.
The lovely Marylin heads our family here. The lovely Marylin gave Chris the thing none else of us could give. Family. The lovely Marylin bore the children Chris spoke so lovingly of.
We as guests in a book can’t begin to compete with such an awesome gift. We can but admire and love, too, the family Chris spent his last moments with.
We can tell of some of the things which made Chris, and which in turn made us all what we are.
Whenever we enjoyed his company, wherever we crossed paths, we can all truthfully affirm we had a spontaneous and warming feeling. A memorable encounter. Something to hold on to when we remember our lives.
I mourn my friend. Profoundly.
We knew Chris mainly through Marilyn, who entertained us with stories of his antics whilst we were meant to be working! He was a really talented man. We remember the brilliant cartoon he did for our manager when she retired. We listened to his dreadful (!) song for the England football team. And he didn’t disappoint when we met him.
We remember the times that Marilyn spoke about how she met Chris. Her strong love and committment for him always shone through.
We will miss him and all the potential he still had.
To My Darling Daddy,
People say ‘a father never tells his children how to live, he just lives and lets his children watch him do it.’ I can’t think of anything more fitting for you, Dad. I have learnt so much from you, perhaps without even knowing it.
When I was just a little girl, we spent all our time together and you had an amazing talent to make every day as interesting as the last. We could be out on one of our ‘tromps’ over Hindhead or I could be with you as you worked from home, but your enthusiasm for everything meant that there wasn’t a dull moment. And as a result, many of your interests became my interests too. We would spend hours recalling your school days, your time in the bands and listening to your music. I don’t know if I ever told you, but I was always so impressed with you, Dad. No matter what life threw at you, your love of living and passion for music, art and your friends and family never faltered. Even in your last few months, it was almost as if you embraced your illness as part of your life journey. You stayed so strong and dignified right until the end; I don’t think I’ve ever respected anyone like I respect you.
I know you’ve left a part of yourself with me and I’d like to think I can be as strong as you were. Through knowing you, I have learnt that life is what you make it. I have learnt that, most of the time, the little things don’t matter. I have learnt to enjoy the basics in life; a pretty sunset, a long walk, a chat with people I love. But most of all Dad, thanks to you, I have learnt all about the kind of person that I actually want to be.
What more can I do but to thank you from the bottom of my heart for every second we spent together and the life you have given me. I am so proud to call you my Daddy. Xxx-xxx-xxX
I didn’t know Chris personally but his music and sense of humor brought me much joy. My condolences to his family & friends.
There are no words in any language to express what my Dad was and will always be to me, because what he was is too enormous to even begin to quantify. He was my hero, my mentor, my inspiration and my rock and that barely scratches the surface. A mere list of mutual recollections could never begin to do him or what he meant to me justice. He gave me my sense of humour, my passion for, and taste in, music, my sense of the ridiculous and most importantly my lust for life. He imparted his encyclopaedic knowledge of just about everything to me, gave his love and care unconditionally and always instilled in me that there was always a way out of the woods, no matter how insurmountable life’s obstacles can sometimes seem. My darling Dad gave me Sami, Vicky, Marilyn, Adam and Debbie, an amazing and loving family that I will cherish and be thankful for forever.
I remember him drawing at his desk with Little Feat leaking from his headphones, sitting up late with him eating treacle tart when I couldn’t sleep (don’t tell Mum or Marilyn!), going on the ‘hot-pie’ train to Fittleworth with him and Sami, and putting my foot through my bedroom door in a fit of petulant rage at the age of about 6. Uncontrollable laughter shared with Vicky when Dad worded something wrong to the point where he would say moodily ‘I can’t talk to you people!’
While playing violin with John’s Children I experienced the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll; my baptism of fire (well…baptism of fire extinguisher!) and when a randomly flung cymbal hit me on the toe (bloody ouch!) as he demolished his drum kit…as usual. I loved it!
In more recent years we walked across the Surrey Downs he loved so much, equipped with the obligatory hip flask (he’d added orange juice to mine after painfully watching me try to drink neat Brandy on a previous evening out). We stumbled upon Arthur Conan Doyle’s beautiful but delapidated house and made our fantasy plans to renovate it to its former glory whilst standing in the overgrown gardens. He told me the entire history of Berlin as we walked through its streets, stood in stunned silence at Sachsenhausen and stood in awe watching Jeff Beck live.
My Dad to me was a rock star, an artist, a confidante and counsellor, an amazing father and most importantly the best friend I could ever wish for. Although the void that is left by his passing is unfillable, his memory and his essence will live on in me and my sisters and he will continue to inspire all who came into contact with him. Dad leaves a legacy of music, family, fun, love and laughter that will never fade with the years he’s so sadly been denied.
Dad, you have always been and will always be my inspiration. You are the greatest man I have ever known and I am the person I am because of you. Thank you.
“Finally, in conclusion, let me say just this.” Peter Sellers
Chris was a boisterously brash basher of the skins on stage but a charming, unfailingly courteous gent off it. I first approached him in 1997 when researching my co-written authorised biography on The Who.
While Chris had talked before about his time associated with Track Records, that notorious John’s Children tour of Germany and one memorable week filling the considerable shoes of Keith Moon, his vivid recall was seasoned with a dry wit and his patient suffering of my “one more phone call” was always appreciated.
I only regret he couldn’t see the photos that are rumoured to exist of his time with the ‘orrible ‘Oo. Give my regards to Moonie and The Ox, Chris. Like them, you are already sorely missed.
Cheers,
ANDY NEILL
I met Chris a handful of times and he was one of the nicest people I have met. I was sad when I heard that he was selling his drums and would no longer be playing with JC but that was nothing in comparison to my sadness when I heard about his illness. He will be sadly missed.
Just another fan but one who’s been touched by the JC music, especially of the 1960s and the 2000s. Some great nights of explosive “powerhouse” drumming in Camden which I’ll always remember.
Chris, I never met you but will miss your wonderful drumming and music.
And from everything above you were obviously a great person – which comes as no surprise.
You live on…
When I started the John’s Children website in 1999 it was out of my own free will, because I was a big fan of the band’s and there wasn’t much about them online at that point. I didn’t know they were still occasionally playing and had never had any contact with any of the band members.
A few months after the website first went live I got an email from Chris Townson who’d come across the website. He seemed sincerely honoured and amazed that someone cared enough in the first place.
Sadly I never did get too meet Chris personally but we did keep in touch from time to time via email from then on. In no time it became obvious to me what a nice, friendly and good humoured man he was. Chris would keep me up to date on whatever the band was up to, as would Andy Ellison and Martin Gordon. But Chris in particular was very interested in the website and was always commenting on what I had written, making lots of great suggestions and filling me in on a lot of interesting things that I hadn’t heard before. He always seemed very appreciative of the fact that there were people like myself around the world who were so into the music he’d been an important part in creating.
Have a safe journey, Chris!
Chris was an extraordinary guy, a very good musician and even if he rocked up he remained a charming character. I guess he saw more in life than others do and his heritage will live on in his musican companions, friends and those who admired what made him so special: his passion to music and his very own humour.
Good luck on your way we´ll miss you.
I never met Chris but I only here good things about the man.
I am just a fan.
Much missed, thank you for the music.
Chris.
Although we are brother and sister, we didnt live like it. Our family were split through no fault of our own but Ive always loved you. And I believe when the time is right we will be as we should have been, true brother and sister.I didnt realise how much there was to say until it was too late to say it. I knew you as a brother as a child but as the years went by,we both got on with our lives,and without realizing it time went so quickly.so i hold on to the memories that i have of when we were both young. Although there is so much i want to say, the time has now gone. I dont think its rite for me to express such deep thaughts that are with me on this page. So for now i send you my love chris, untill we meet again.
Your sister, Joan
I have fond memories of Chris visiting the office Marilyn & I worked at in Barnet. It was difficult to imagine such a quiet and unassuming man having such a wild time.
A truely good person.
I went out with Vicky for a short while and I met Chris a few times during that time. He had had an impact enough for me to write here….
I used to think I could drum and therefore bought a drum kit at Uni and I showed it off to Vicky..When Chris came to our Uni house he sat at the Kit and gave me the biggest lesson on how to play the drums and I have never since had someone play so brilliantly…I was also lucky enough to see a John’s Children gig and that evening completely blew me away and I loved every minute of it….
Its funny what you remember…I suppose but he definately had an impact on my life and I remember how down to earth he was to me and how he was a great man…
I am not often moved to write something about someone but on this occasion I felt I had to..but the limited time I spent with Chris was great and you could tell he had something about him…
As I say I’m not someone who could tell you a life history but I had to write something because I thought alot of him
Any memories I have of him are good ones and He always treated me with respect and dignity….
I must pass on my sympathy to your family and friends..And hope that you are still smiling wherever you are
i have no real memeories of chris in person other than the day victorias parents cam eto vist and he said hell o through the window of our lounge door but what i door remember is a party we had-victorias birthday i think.and i toasted to his picture before doing a shot and i can honestly say i was the most fabulous party and i am honoured to have meet chris even for a moment.i read some of the comments and i am sad i never got to share aconversation,only a drink!
come on spurs.
R.I.P chris.
P.s i love his music too.definatly a soundtrack to my university life.
Rich
So sad to hear the news I played with Chris in the
Peter Cooper Band for a while.(1968) Great drummer such a nice guy will always remember the photo of him playing with the Who on the fireplace his pride and joy
Bye Mate
I often think about you Chris and our last conversation, it was great to talk to you properly having known you only as an acquaintance up to that time. We thought the same about young people and their problems and I felt that we had begun a friendship that woud be very important to me. I admired your true compassion and empathy towards your young charges. You obviously turned many lives around and had a wonderfully positive and inspirational effect on them. To know that you had made such a huge difference to so many lost young ones must have been wonderful. The following week I heard the devastating news about you and was so shocked and found it extremely hard to accept.
It is not often that you leave a party feeling that you have made a friend for life. I don’t know if you felt the same but I was and remain terribly sad that you were so cruelly wrenched away from your lovely family and friends and me.
May your bright light shine on in some other place Chris,
Love Melanie
I had the opportunity to join Chris and associates during the 2000 (legendary) John’s Children/Jet/Radio Stars tour, the mixing/re-recordings of the live stuff in Berlin afterwards and a later John’s Children gig in (again) Germany at the “Men From UNKLE” festival.
For the 3 concerts in the 2000 tour, Chris sometimes drove me crazy: he needed this type of equipment for this, that type of equipment for that – and he spent hours on putting all stuff right within a 1000th of an inch tolerance – for the rehearsal/soundcheck only: when the show really started he almost immediately pushed all stuff away..
Chris learned me that whatever shit you are getting in, the basic rules always apply: be prepared for everything – with the most professional attitude I have ever seen.
And oh, what have we laughed (and got drunk) during that tour – Irish Pub in Berlin, the “elephant letter”.. – and at our later meetings as well.
Chris, you are unforgettable!
Chris,
A whole year has passed. Unbelievable.
Never a day goes by without my thoughts of the good times. I hope you are truly at peace my friend.
Your legacy lives on.
Drum on, mate!
Best,
Ian
Still have the copy of ‘Desdemona’ that Chris gave me in the Italian garden at Box Hill School. The headmaster thought he would ‘never amount to anything’. It’s odd how they can get it so wrong.
RIP
I have not forgotten you, i knew i wouldn’t. i send a loving thought to your family Chris from time to time and wonder how they have coped – i have not forgotten them either.
Love cannot die and you loved your family above all else in this world.
Thanks for all that racket, as noted on the recent first edition of the Trilogy with no Townson presence. You were part of recent Radio Stars rehearsal discussions…
Miss you Pa. xx
chris im your older sister linda so sad to here your not with us anymore we might have had a bad upbring but you had a good time with your friends and family so glad you was happy at last always thinking of you have done for years r i p xxxxx love linda
chris so sorry we lost touch and we had a bad upbringing no faut of our own but you had a good life and sounds like a nice family and was happy r i p love your sister linda xxxx
Thinking of you Dad…always xxxx
So.
Chris Townson.
You are also Finnished.
But in a different way.
I could see from his illustrations to Martin Gordon’s songs that he was a fine artist. As I did not know him, I read about his life with great interest . I hope that he would like my illustrations as much as I admire his work.Please accept my sincere condolences, and best wishes.
Chris townson
What can I say I remember the phoenix project every day of my life, I even have a tattoo of a pheonix on my back.
You were always so kind even if i did give you all a hard time at first.
You will be missed greatly by all of the youngesters at the pheonix project it was such a lovely place and you did wonders with all us there I know many of us from 03/04 felt saved by what you did for us there so thank you. If I could tell you one thing it would be 10 years later Im not using the word ‘AND’ as a defence mechanism, I dont drink anymore, My now husband finished the job the pheonix project started and I finally went to college and have a level 2 certificate in bookeeping.
All because of the pheonix project you guys 100% saved and changed my life thank you.
you will be forever missed but forever remembered in my heart.
Heidi Horohan (nee Bing)