To the friends of Chris Newman at FoR3

[Petrushka]

Petrushka has drawn my attention to this announcement.

I shall be going to the funeral on Wednesday and will pass on the condolences of all. (Shall have to see if I have anything brightly coloured ...)

Thank you, FF. I do hope that all who valued Chris, his wit, wisdom and deep love of music as evidenced on this forum will join me in making a donation to the Stars Appeal as indicated in the link. Many thanks also to FF for attending the funeral on our behalf.

[Roehre]

Dear Becca,

I have deep respect for Modestchristoff aka your father Chris Newman - knowledgeable, a gentleman, a "Connaisseur and Liebhaber" to whom all of us on these and the former R3 boards owe in some way or another.

Deeply saddened by this news.

RIP

[pilamenon]

I was so sorry to hear this. Your father was the friendliest forum member you could wish for, and as others have said, such an enthusiast. He always seemed to look for the good in everything and struck me as a very open-minded person. If I remember rightly, he had been given a new lease of life by a heart pacemaker and was making the most of it. A particular memory I have was his account of listening to the Proms on a transistor radio with friends when on a walking holiday in Wales - those must have been happy times indeed.

for Chris

[salymap]

I remember good email chats about Czech music and his visits to Prague, a city I never saw. He sent me some of his wonderful paintings [or pointed me to his troovi site] and we shared an enthusiasm for John Ireland's music and his Windmill home that we had both visited. His parents are buried in the little churchyard near John Ireland and I was able to send him some Ireland memorabilia given to me by a colleague.
He's an impossible act to follow, a man who could enthuse and interest on so many subjects.

Dear Chris RIP

[ardcarp]

May I just add my condolences. I only knew Chris via The Forum, but always knew his posts were informed by a deep knowledge and love of music. It has been great to read everyone's tributes om this thread, Chris. You will be sorely missed.

[Richard Tarleton]

Just returned from a week's holiday to this very sad news - my deepest sympathies to you Becca and family. I too only knew Chris through the Forum, but shall miss his wise and witty posts, and his reminiscences. We recently reminded ourselves of a performance of Four Last Songs we both attended in 1972 - I think I'll give that a spin.

[Dave2002]

I've just come in from a day in the garden, and am now saddened to read this news. I knew Chris from these boards, and also from his previous incarnation on the R3 boards. I did not suspect that the two were one and the same person.
I valued his contributions which were always thoughtful. He will be missed.

I have no hesitation in joining all the membera here in expressing my sympathy and condolences to Becca and her family.

[pmartel]

Also add in my condolences to your loss as I had read some of his postings on the forum

[bluestateprommer]

I only just now read of this sad news about Chris Newman. I knew him only from these chats on the forum here and on the BBC site. He was very welcoming to a newcomer from the other side of the Atlantic to the discussion. I never had the chance to meet him in person at the RAH, unfortunately. My sincere condolences to Rebecca Newman and your family.

[Tevot]

I too have just come across this sad news. Chris' contributions struck me as being thoughtful, erudite and humane - I suspect very much like the man himself. My condolences also to the Newman family.

[hmvman]

May I add my condolences too. So sorry to hear this news.

RIP, Chris

[kernelbogey]

To my dad's friends

[....]

If any of you are local and want to say goodbye, his funeral will be on Wednesday 30th May at 3pm at St Thomas's Church, Salisbury. Dad had requested Mahler 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen', and although I don't like recorded music in services, I think it only appropriate that one of his favourite singers, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, should sing it. If there is a heaven, I hope they bumped into each other at the gate.

With best wishes,

Becca Newman

I'm bumping this thread up as others might like a reminder of the time of Chris's funeral: I have found it helpful, when unable to say goodbye to a friend by attending her or his funeral, to put some time aside at that time, or at least on that day, to have them in my thoughts.

BW, kb

[salymap]

I'm bumping this thread up as others might like a reminder of the time of Chris's funeral: I have found it helpful, when unable to say goodbye to a friend by attending her or his funeral, to put some time aside at that time, or at least on that day, to have them in my thoughts.

BW, kb

I couldn't agree more, kb, and thank you.

[kernelbogey]

I couldn't agree more, kb, and thank you.

Thanks Sal.... and as I get older and friends die, I think more - and more frequently - of my own mortality.

[Curalach]

Thank you kb, that was thoughtful.
I have wondered how best to remember Chris this afternoon. As it turns out I will be waiting while my wife undergoes a chemotherapy session. There is a quiet place to sit and my thoughts will be with them both.