Dear Jude, I was lucky enough to have known your dad since our school days, we even dated in college but your dad realised quite early on I was high maintenance and just became my taxi service instead!! Through Facebook we reconnected and years ago before you were born, I was in London and your dad invited me and my friend over. I met your mum then and your dad took us out for dinner which included some of his work colleagues. We had a fab night, laughed a lot and your dad was as always, fun, happy, storytelling and hospitable. Your dad was one in a million Jude but most of all his infectious spirit, humour, kindness and generosity made him special and his amazing smile that was always there for all to see. XXXX

Jude, Chris was one of a kind. Supremely generous and caring, empathetic, and as many have mentioned, the biggest, best smile. A good friend to so many. He loved music and I used to love going to your place and setting up a little playlist of all my favourite songs from his selection to accompany the occasion. There’s one song that I know Sarah Lafferty and I will always associate with him and now every time I hear it it will put a smile on my face as I picture Chris on the dance floor. Sarah Lafferty would say that if you put this song on, Chris will be the first up to dance. With the two of us right behind him. She was always right:

Where to start…I worked with your Father at SAP. He always had a huge smile on his face, kind and generous of heart. He would always bounce into a room and you knew Chris had arrived. However busy he always had time to talk.

I loved hearing about you and your Mum, he loved you both so much. You look so much like him and I can see his kindness in your face.

His work trips were always interesting too and never without a story. He had his wallet stolen, cards copied and even fell over in the shower. We were due to catch up one day and he had managed to trip over whilst walking down the pavement and cut his head open. I will miss him but am so glad I met him as he was a huge inspiration.

My first memory of Chris ….I had heard lots and lots about Chris before I met him , Rob Hannaby had told me of all his crazy antics as they had been friends for years and years. I was sitting in the local pub with a group of girlfriends in 1993 and only going out with Rob for about a month when Chris plonked himself at our table and asked “right which one of you is going out with Nobby” then asked me questions about myself to ensure I was suitable for his mate. He was also our first visitor when we moved to NZ all those years ago and later returned with Simone. He was an awesome guy, once met, never forgotten .

My boys and I met Chris on a trip to England the day after we met Jude. We had lunch with Simone & Jude and another hometown friend, Stephanie and her youngest Quentin. Our picnic was on the lawn outside the Tate Modern. The next day, we ate at an Indian restaurant Simone recommended and then headed to Snowflake for some ice cream. Jude & Simone met us there. Before we knew it, Chris came to join us. After finishing the awesome treat, your dad tried to point us in the direction of our hotel to save us from taking the Tube. True to his caring and giving self, he offered for us all to walk to our hotel. Chris made everyone feel like he had known them for years. His laugh is unforgettable.

He made me laugh. My son is a similar age to you Jude. We swapped stories of how bad we were at parenting, but how much we loved the new life as a dad. How hard it was to leave you guys when we traveled for work (the pic of you with the suitcase), how kids always wanted a gift from the plane, airport or wherever were we at the time on travel (but mums would always give out).

I always remember the man from stoke’s accent. He was a clumsy old fool too, but in a nice way.. Accident Prone for sure, falling over in showers or however the story goes!. He was one of the good guys, always looking out for others. In a strange way we found others that knew him too in a totally unconnected by very close way, Roy, Sarah, Simon and Rory – all from different jobs over the years – all had the same to say about him. He was a great guy.

My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Chris almost 13 years ago. We were visiting London and I got in contact with Simone Barry. They met us at a local pub and we had the best time catching up with Simone and getting to know Chris Elsmore. I just want to say that he is a genuine person who will be missed by so many people all over the world. Even in small town Taylorville.

Dear Jude. Dad was a special dad but you knew that anyway. I met your dad way back in 2000 when we worked for the same company and them he came to work with me again in 2001. It must be difficult to think of a world that didn’t have Facebook but Your dad was special and didn’t need things like Facebook to make friends and keep them. He passed that special test . If you didn’t see each other every day at work , would you still be the best of friends…? In your Dads case a big fat yes… Always in touch and easy…relaxed…and very funny…treat everybody with respect, do what you say you’ll do, make people laugh and love your mum and you won’t go wrong… Take care Jude..

Unlike many of you, I didn’t know Chris that well, but we seemed to bump into each other many times over the years. He was one of the most genuine, generous, helpful and fun people to spend time with. Whether talking business, playing (bad) golf, or having a laugh over a beer it was always good to spend time with Chris. One of life’s great guys who seemed to enjoy life to the full.

Good times with Chris. Not the best golfer, lol, but he definitely added to the fun factor! Taylorville IL, 2014

Some time around 1995, Chris called me and said “Pete, I’ve just sold a car so I’ve got some cash burning a hole in my pocket. I fancy a trip somewhere cool, where shall we go?”. We decided that we’d learn to Scuba dive and, as a good friend Claire Hatton was in Indonesia, we’d head that way and go to Bali. The original plan was for Chris to do his PADI course and for us to then meet up with a dive guide who’d take us to the best spots. Our guide was a mad but incredible local called Wally Siagian who decided that Chris didn’t need a PADI course and he’d teach him to dive. Chris first dive was a night time wreck dive! My fondest memory of that trip was being 25m underwater with Chris while Wally was standing in the water frog legged conducting two enormous schools of fish.

Chris and I had been mates at University but it was the two weeks on a dive tour of Bali where I really got to know him. We had a lot of fun, a lot of giggles and a few close scrapes. As we got older Chris and I both had some great times and some times that were a bit tougher. Chris was always there with support and a smile when it was needed, he had a talent for raising spirits when times were bad and making fun times even more enjoyable just with his company. When I think of Chris, it’s always with a smile, on his face and on mine.

Chris and Wally

Chris and Pete