Biography of Chris

Chris left school at 16 and started work in the Westminster Bank in London in 1960. She stayed there until 1977 when she had children. In those days banking was all done by hand, using dip-ink pens and ledgers.

There was great camaraderie at the bank, especially if, like Chris, you were enjoyed playing sports. Chris played hockey and even travelled out to Ireland with the team. The social life was good and she met her husband that way.

After she had children she stayed at home. Her husband worked in banking and they had a good lifestyle but then, aged 40, her husband announced he was leaving his job. There was no discussion. This meant giving up the lifestyle she had got used to and moving to Woldingham in the North Downs where she and her husband ran the village shop – hard work she says, but she enjoyed it.

In 1985 the family moved to Rye and ran the newsagents in the Landgate for 13 years. The work was ‘mind-numbing’ but meeting the public was ‘lovely.’

In Woldingham, Chris had begun working for the scouts and she continued to do that in Rye. The Rye Scouts are unique as they are called Captain Corey’s own – Captain Corey was a friend of Baden-Powell, who lived in Ewhurst. After Captain Corey died, his wife took over running the troop. So Chris is not unique in being a woman in the scouting world. Chris worked for the scouts for 25 years in all, and only gave up her warrant two years ago in 2020.

In retirement she and her husband bought two restaurants in the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells.  Her two boys ran the restaurants. She and the family then started doing self-catering – Pantiles Catering. They ran this from Rye Harbour for four years.

In addition to the scouts, Chris has been involved in other volunteer groups. She started up a Mother’s Union in Rye – the group is still going. She trained as a parenting volunteer in 2000 and helped run a group for fathers in Lewes prison for several years.  She is also a Chaplain at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings working in the Special Baby Unit and Maternity wards running, what she calls, is a ‘Ministry of Cake.’ She has also worked as a coordinator for the Rye Foodbank.

Audio of interview with Chris