Obituary: Chris Houston

Chris Houston

It is with great sadness that the family and close friends announce the passing of Chris Houston formerly of Rossendale, who died peacefully at Springfield Park Care Home on Thursday 5 January 2023, aged 83 following a short illness.

He leaves behind sons Chris, Paul and Timothy and grandson Daniel and granddaughter Bethany. Also sisters Anne, Deirdre and brother Kieran.

Chris was involved with various organisations such as HMR Circle, Rochdale Pensioner’s Association, Rochdale Senior Citizens Forum, The User Carer Group University of Salford Students and sat on various committees that championed older people and social reform.

He made many, many friends over the course of his long life and close association with various charities and interest groups.

Special thanks to the following for the kindness and support given to Chris in his later life and during his short illness: Kirsty Phillips (close friend); Charlotte Norman (chief officer for Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group and close friend); Linsey Brierley, Margaret Taylor and, Marcus Johnson (neighbours and close friends), Elaine and Neil Biddulph (close friends), Colin Hilton, Steve Williams, Garry Basnett, Kim Ho, Linda Holt, Irene Longhurst, Barbara Owen (close friends from Circle) and Tracey Williamson and Mary Braine (close friends).

In accordance with Chris’s wishes, there will not be a funeral service but a celebration of his life will be announced in the near future.

Before his passing, he asked if everyone that knew him could write a short piece about him so that they could all be collated, read out at his commemoration and finally added to his family history.

Any donations to HMR Circle where a Memorial Fund has been created to remember Chris and his lifetime achievements and long membership of Circle. Please can you write cheques payable to Rochdale Circle CIC.

All contributions can be directed to Kim Ho at HMR Circle, Suite F4 Lock 50 Business Centre, Oldham Road, Rochdale, OL16 5RD.

Email: kim@hmrcircle.org.uk