Very sad news. Long term Queens Park Tennis Club member, teammate and friend Chris Anderson has died at the age of 56.
His widow Anne-Marie Anderson writes: “Chris died at home peacefully on 23rd. I was with him.”
Chris was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2019. He leaves four children: Freya, Esme, Malin and Frank.
Chris taught maths at a secondary school in Lancing, and also worked with a pupil referral unit for disadvantaged children. He tutored many local children, including several current club members. He served as club secretary and team captain for Queens Park Tennis Club, and was a regular participant in team tennis and club social activities over many years.
Pauline O’Reilly writes: “We will all have our own precious memories of Chris to treasure and sustain us at this time. We’ll no doubt be sharing them with one another as soon as we can be together again.
“When Chris took over as Club Secretary from Terry we knew we were in good hands. He said that one day he would like to run a tennis club in the South of France but meanwhile quirky old QPTC would do!
“He loved tennis, was always ready to help and encourage others and to make newcomers feel welcome. He had a great sense of humour, loved to party and entertained us on many occasions just jamming with his guitar.
“One of his many gifts was to nudge others into taking on jobs for the club that they hadn’t considered and in so doing making them feel appreciated and needed. Chris was a really lovely man and we’ll miss him so much.”
QPTC has gathered a collection of images of Chris over the years. Any new pictures welcome: Chris Anderson gallery
The funeral will take place Friday 5 March, 12.30pm at Woodvale South Chapel, Lewes Road, BN2 3Q8. Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions apply. Mourners are invited to share the ceremony via webcast. See details below:
There is a Just Giving page in memory of Chris set up by the family, in aid of Martlets Hospice. Martlets fund care to help people through a terminal illness.
QPTC appreciates this is a time of great loss and mourning for many club members. We will look to suitably commemorate the life of a good friend in due course.
Message from Chris Anderson’s brother Marcus: “I am writing to you to thank you for putting up such a lovely tribute to my brother Chris. Chris would not need me to tell you how much he enjoyed the tennis club, your company and the great fun he had there. I can see that in the really tremendous photographs that have been shared on your website. They are particularly touching as I can remember as boys playing Chris nearly everyday when we could, through holidays and summers on into autumn, and table tennis through the winter. Of course I don’t have photographs of that time, but yours surely make up for that. [see here] We played at Woolton Hill Tennis Club near Newbury and QPTC looks so similar and Chris would have loved being a part of the club and the camaraderie. I am not sure his style ever softened, he would belt his serves and be fiercely competitive on the court, much in the style of his father who sadly died at a similar age.”
In Spring 2020, QPTC gathered a bunch of videos from frustrated members being kept off court. We made a lockdown video. This is what Chris sent us:
