Christopher France (31 Jan 1948 - 1 Oct 2023)

A characterful hi octane individual garnished with fun and drive.

He advised me about an imminent Falmer teacher college interview stressing one must use the word "Empathy" to be assured of a place. Thanks Chris coz later on I had global time at Deaf n Blind, Special Ed and schools doing maths, chess and sport.

Chris and many of us at PGS mid 60's saw life as an adventure to find skills and purpose but with feet kept on the ground...... unlike the runners who suffered a wet landing due to hidden holes we had dug in the base of the water splash for our inter school cross country Cup. Many in the know witnessed opposition athletes tripping up in PGS's version of Bechers Brook.

Yes a good geezer has moved on and is a reminder to us all not to take for granted the miracle of our Heaven on Earth. When it is our turn it is a stunned realisation of no longer belonging to that miracle in our lives.

But fear not because when I cark it will join Batch and Chris and we'll put the kettle on for you who follow.

Thanks Chris for sharing all the stuff we gleaned within that miracle....

Cheers in spirit,

Peter Bennett, Nick Lloyd, Jim Laker, Gordon Pirie, Bob Treadwell, SBAC, SLH and I.

So sad to hear of Chris’ passing.
He was a devoted runner who knew that hard work paid dividends, he gained a number of county honours for himself as well as coaching many local athletes to a similar standard and beyond. He and his mate Batch (Robin Batchelor) were a comic duo who enriched the lives of many and leave us with happy memories of a time gone by.
I have not been in touch with Chris for many years which I regret as he taught me to love running again even though he did sell me a dodgy mini which was barely legal.
RIP Chris

Very sad to hear Chris has passed away.
I knew Chris, though not well, from his Epsom & Ewell Harriers time. He and Batch (Robin Batchelor) were the driving forces behind building the successfull Harriers road & cross country team of the late 1970s and 1980s. I remember competing several times against Chris in the Surrey 3000m s/c track championships in the late 1970s (see attached photo of Chris at his best). He was a very good steeplechase hurdler and I never did beat him in that race.
RIP Chris.

Such sad news Gwen😪
He was my Surrey squad steeplechase coach as a junior. I bought my first mini off him...which lasted through our Boro Road college years... which he also attended together. We won the British Colleges Orienteering Team at Cannock Chase and he got upset with (new boy me) pipping him to bronze individual medal😂
A great Athlete in his day and still highly ranked in Surrey steeplechase rankings.
So sad that I never got to see him in recent years.
RIP Chris🙏

I am so sorry to hear of Chris' demise. He was close to Batch (Robin Batchelor) from their school days and throughout their athletics careers. Also in his later gardening business. He visited Batch not long before Batch died which was really appreciated. Always a loner, but a good mate.