Tribute to Chris Nash by Roger Edgell
Chris went to the same primary school as I did – even though I
was two years his junior I was aware of his impeccable temperament and kindness
to others.
At Ash Walsh Memorial Church of England Primary School, to give
it its full title, Chris was taught by almost the identical set of teachers
that I had the good fortune to encounter – he would always talk about them all
with absolute respect; Mr Hunt took Chris for early morning, before school,
running training and relay practise at Shawfields Recreation Ground – at times
the Headmaster, Mr Durbin, would just turn up to watch.
Ash Walsh School actually had three locations: the main school
in Ash Street, The Clinic in Shawfields Road and The Chapel in Ash Street –
living as Chris did in Ash Street, next door to The Garden House Shop near The
Kings Head pub, I was not aware that he attended The Clinic, as I did, since it
was only a stone’s throw from our family home in Attfield Close – my mother
could see me in the playground from the kitchen window. Having said that, Chris
did attend The Chapel where he was taught by Mrs Prescott, a fairly stern lady,
whose hair was always tied back and in his final year, like me he attended The
Chapel to be taught by Mrs Woodward; she was always called Margaret, but Chris
knew that her real christian name was Margherita. Other teachers we recalled
with fondness were Mr Pooley (who seemed to be the only other male teacher
apart from Mr Hunt), Mrs Townsend, Mrs Quirk and Miss Wilson – the latter being
a name I had forgotten but in visiting Chris just a few months ago he called
out her name as I was leaving No. 22 – I just knew he would remember her name.
On passing his XI plus examination in 1955 Chris journeyed off
to Farnham Grammar School (FGS) – I know from experience that the Ash Walsh
teachers were always very proud of their pupils who made it to the Grammar
School – Chris was no exception; like me, Chris always wanted to go to FGS.
At FGS he was great friends with other athletes, and I do mean
athletes, not just footballers – people like John Matthews, Bryn Carre and Lyn
Gardiner; Chris was in Massingberd House, which had sort of maroon shirts in
games – later after Chris had left FGS Massingberd House adopted yellow shirts;
the significance of the maroon shirts was that it was in fact 50% of the school
quarter colours – the other 50% being the light blue (sky blue) of School
House.
The family will have a good deal of knowledge of Chris at both
FGS and of course his dedication to the Old Farnhamians’ Association (OFA),
where he would always provide sound counsel for me in my former duties as
Secretary and later as President; after OFA meetings we would always spend time
chatting before we went home – if he was ever later than you expected Judy it
was almost certainly due to the fact that he and I had become engrossed with
topics from Middlesbrough Football Club (his team) to Civil Service Contracts,
Processes and Procedures; after OFA Dinners he would always take home a floral
decoration for Judy.
I am going to so very much miss my great chum, Chris Nash – the
kindest of men, who it was my absolute privilege to have known.
Roger
Edgell – November 27th, 2021.
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Tribute to Chris Nash by Ian Sargeant
Chris Nash was in the same FGS school year as I. We were both
put in Form 1P under the kindly form master John Wills in September 1955.
Thirty excited 11-year olds, most of them not previously known to each other, quickly
mingled and made friendships.
Chris was not a noisy boy but slightly retiring, though very
sociable and approachable. We were always good friends though not close. Since
he lived in Ash, travelling in by train every day, we did not often meet
outside of school hours. He played football and performed well in athletics.
And he was clever, getting good O-Level results but not going onto A-Levels. He
told me in recent years that his father drummed into him the importance of
taking full advantage of the opportunity being offered to him by going to
But when he left after 5th form our paths separated
in 1960 with just meetings at OFA events. We started to meet more often when I
returned to live in Farnham in 1992 and to become re-engaged in local matters.
Chris had pursued a career at the RAE in Farnborough whilst I had become an
accountant and worked abroad till our return. However, our view of the world
was very similar and we enjoyed discussing a wide range of topics on which we
would draw very similar opinions, admiring the same public figures and ranting
against others.
Chris was, from my perspective, very shrewd. He took a strong
interest in financial markets and made some very good calls.
We frequently travelled together to OFA events, particularly in
recent years when his health was deteriorating. We were both trustees of the
Old Farnhamians’ Scholarship Trust. He
talked a lot about his family. He was devoted to Judy and their daughters.
Sadly, Chris’s health went through a prolonged decline, which he
bore stoically. Judy’s support was magnificent and unstinting and our heart
goes out to her in her loss. We will all miss Chris as we share the grief of
Judy and the family.
Ian Sargeant – Wednesday, 22 December, 2021