Chris was born on the 3rd of March 1949 in Burton upon Trent to John Mellor (who was always known by the name Jack) and Mary Thompson. Both his parents each had 3 sisters and since girls ran in the family perhaps it is no surprise that Chris went on to have 5 daughters.
Chris passed his 11+ but instead of going to grammar school he chose to go to the local technical high school so that he could stay with his childhood friends. Mary grew up just around the corner from Hillsborough football ground and as a child he was an avid supporter of Sheffield Wednesday. Not only did he love to watch football but played it himself on school teams and for South Derbyshire at weekends until he
suffered a repetitive ankle injury and took up running. He was also an avid rower from the age of 14 and rowed as part of a team for Burton Leander who competed all over England including at Henley. This despite the fact he couldn't swim at the time and on one occasion their boat hit a bridge on the river Trent and capsized trapping Chris underneath. He would have drowned if he hadn't been saved by one of his best friends.
He went on to attend the sixth form at Dove Cliff Grammar school passing A levels in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and pure Maths. He was offered a place at Salford University to study civil engineering but instead chose to pursue a career in accounting for East Staffordshire district council. He liked working in public finance because he felt he could help people. A path he chose again in later life with a passionate belief in helping to make a positive change that would benefit people.
While working for the district council he also studied at Wolverhampton
University passing his exams in public finance accounting. Chris had many hobbies and talents. He loved to read as a child and gathered a considerable book collection. Not only was he a good football player but he also loved cricket and could both bowl and bat well playing for school, work and villages he lived in. From Jack who was a keen gardener and loved to grow vegetables he inherited his love of gardening. Every
house Chris ever lived in had a pretty garden which he created and tended to. Mary painted for a hobby and as well as being gifted at maths Chris was also an artist and particularly liked to paint with watercolours. He would take photographs and adapt a landscape from them.
In his early teenage years he took up drumming and had his own drum kit, he'd drum with friends at jam nights and all of those who loved him will remember him tapping away on the dinner table to music. His claim to drumming fame was that he once drummed in a warm up band before an artist then known as Reginald Dwight who we all now know as Elton John. Chris even had a stint as a young boy at playing the cornet for the local Salvation Army band. Chris was dedicated to many hobbies but this wasn't one that endured. He loved cinema and films in particular Fellini and Italian cinema and as a young man he was the secretary of a cinema club who met regularly to watch films together. Chris will also be remembered for his love of music. His taste was eclectic and he passed this love of such a wide variety of music on to all his daughters.
While working for the council first in Burton upon Trent and then in Cirencester as a senior accountant Chris married Maeve and had 3 daughters Faye, Katie and Alison. They moved to Huntingdon in 1979 where Chris joined Anglian Water as a senior accountant from where he worked his way up to CEO.

Julia and Chris met whilst they were both working at Anglian Water in Huntingdon as part of the team which steered the company through Privatisation in 1989. Julia left Anglian Water to work in the NHS whilst Chris remained, becoming Finance Director and later CEO.
They purchased their first and only home together in the North Essex village of Ashdon in 1999. It wasn’t long before Chris set to work improving the garden. On one occasion Julia returned home to find that Chris had painted a white outline in the lawn resembling the crime scene of a large aquatic animal. It wasn’t long before the shape was transformed into a border full of beautiful perennials and roses. The garden was his pride and joy but also his retreat, going outside in all weathers and after long days at the office or upon returning from a trip abroad. As time progressed he became more adventurous with his gardening - digging his own pond that boasted a waterfall and also making shapes out of bushes, most famously an apple at the front of the house.

Daisy was born in late April 2000 and Grace came along in November 2001 and as the girls grew he was involved in every aspect of raising them. Chris and Julia were married on a beautiful sunny day in September 2003 at Ashdon village Church, both girls were bridesmaids. In 2004 Chris & Julia purchased their holiday home in South Florida. Once again Chris cherished his garden – turning the bare earth into a tropical paradise. He also took great pride in his art, gathering a beautiful collection of paintings and sculptures, and often could be found painting or drawing himself. The family have spent many happy holidays there over the years and built lasting friendships with neighbours. Chris particularly enjoyed playing golf in Florida, going out onto the fairways in the fierce heat of summer even when the local Floridians deemed it way too hot, and deemed him a little bit mad!
The girls' old bath-time quizzes set by Chris are legendary in the Mellor household, a time both Daisy & Grace remember from their pre-school days. As time went by
and the girls became older, conversations over dinner became more and more intellectual and broad, covering any range of topics as Chris shared his vast knowledge with the girls, (online searching to solve homework problems was seldom required when Chris was at home.)
As the girls grew Chris became busy again with various assignments in Northern Ireland and around the UK, but he never missed a parents evening or a school play.
Daisy developed a passion for dance and Chris was beyond proud when she was selected to train at the Royal Ballet School at the age of 11. Little did he realise at the time the number of car journeys he would be taking over the next 5 years to and from Richmond – often a 6 hour round trip. But these journeys became precious Dad/Daughter time where they could chat or attempt to educate each other in their tastes in music. Meanwhile Grace developed a passion for swimming, hockey and netball and Chris would often be seen on the sideline on a frosty morning or at the pool proudly supporting her achievements in competitions (or back at home with her discussing game tactics!) Chris and Grace shared a love of watching the Arsenal football team, and whilst supporting a game he could often be heard from another room loudly disagreeing with the referee! Weekend mornings were often spent together as a family, playing old and new music in the kitchen and making chocolate
and banana pancakes, on which all would talk about their week or share their latest interests. Chris always felt fulfilled spending time in his beloved home and garden, surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him.
Chris was always supportive to everyone he met, a kind and caring soul of whom was loved by all. Chris was a loving, proud and dedicated Grandad to his 6 grandchildren Ruben, Ned, Alfie, Lila, Gabriel and Mesi.He always had time for them and great fun was had when the family was all together. He was a wise and loving father who was always there if you needed him and who imparted invaluable advice to all his daughters. Advice that they will carry with them forever and share with others if they ever need a compassionate ear and in this way his legacy of wisdom and kindness will be passed along.