Based at our Home Estates in Fairford and Quenington, Chris has witnessed the Trust’s evolving transformation.
He was No. 16 on the payroll when he first started in 1986 under the leadership of John Malleson, the Trust’s Agent & Secretary to the Trustees, when Lord Saye and Sele (the late Nathaniel Fiennes) was Chairman. In those early days, he recalls a very different era, rarely stepping into the office, “…you knew your place!”
In Chris’s early years, the Trust’s annual grant giving was in the region of £10K – £20K; comparing this to today’s figure of £4.3M gives a fascinating snapshot of just how much the Trust has grown during his career.
The celebrations began with pizzas in the staff kitchen at Court Farm, where Joe, Conservation & Woodland Manager, paid tribute to Chris, especially his longevity,
…the thing that brought it home to me was when we were tidying up a tree, and you said, “I planted that!” – you’ve seen the lifetime of a cherry tree come and go
Amongst the gifts given to Chris was a piece of that same cherry tree, crafted into a decorative piece by the Skills Workshop team using pyrography techniques.
When asked to describe his time at the Trust, he said with a wry smile in his trademark quick wit,
Fair to midling!”
But after a little more digging, Chris reflected that over the years he has particularly enjoyed the huge variety of people he’s met, especially his fellow colleagues. Some of the current staff noted, to Chris’s amusement, that he had begun his career at the Trust before they were born!
The celebrations continued with a tree planting in the grounds of Court Farm, timed to coincide with the trustees’ quarterly visit at the end of June. Chair, Mary Riall paid tribute to Chris, saying,
His quiet presence embodies so much of what ECT is all about.
Chief Executive, Ed Ikin, paid tribute to Chris’s skill and knowledge, describing the natural connection he has with his craft, and paying him the ultimate compliment,
If ever I want an honest opinion, there’s only one place I go!
High praise indeed, given Ed’s standing in the world of horticulture.
With four decades to draw upon, Chris has many stories to tell. So if you every have the pleasure of his company, ask him about the time he was required to hide in a hedge with a drum, poised to perform a drum-roll at the appropriate moment, or when Rick Stein cooked for him at Chelsea Flower Show, or when he donned his suit to chauffeur the Trust’s VIP guests to Oriel College, Oxford. He’s good for gardening tips too!
