We are shocked and saddened to have to report the unexpected death of the Endeavour Trust's treasurer, Chris Bailey, seen below just weeks ago steering Endeavour home from the D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth. A great friend to the Trust, an able seaman and liked and respected by everyone he met, Chris's passing will leave a gaping hole in the lives of all that knew him. Today, Endeavour's flag is at half mast as a mark of respect.
UPDATED: Details for Chris's memorial service are below.
The following words are by Chris's longtime friend, colleague and Endeavour Trustee, Peter Wexham:
Endeavour Trust treasurer Chris Bailey, who died unexpectedly this week, had been involved in the community of Leigh since the 1960s. He represented the town as a councilor on Southend Council and always fought for the town.
He was one of the first people to join what is now the Endeavour Trust when it started as a fund raiser to bring the Endeavour back to Leigh from a boatyard in the Medway. He has been involved ever since, being a committee member, then chair & at the time of his death, our treasurer.
He was involved in the Rotary Club and the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships and was a skipper for BESC, the sailing club for the Bank of England where he was employed all his working life. He had Royal Yachting Association certificates for skippering a large yacht in inshore & offshore waters and has sailed in the Med and around the British coast as well as the west coast of America where he spent a number of years working for the Bank.
Chris had been on Endeavour on the Portsmouth trip to the D-Day commemorations in early June. More recently, he flew to Scotland to join a yacht chartered by the Bank of England sailing around the Scottish islands. He suffered a heart attack on the boat. By the time they could get him to the emergency services it was too late to save him.
Chris’s absence will be a great loss to the Endeavour Trust and our hearts go out to his wife Judith, his children Philippa and Dominic and his two grandchildren at this sad time.
A service to remember the life of Chris Bailey will be held at Southend Crematorium
on Wednesday 24th July at 12pm.
on Wednesday 24th July at 12pm.
This
will be followed by a wake at the Chalkwell Park Rooms in Chalkwell
Park, Leigh on Sea. As well as refreshments and general conversation
there will be a chance for people to share their memories of Chris. We
hope that friends will bring their thoughts and stories and be prepared
to share them if they would like to.
Everybody is welcome, but it would be helpful for us to know if you plan to attend so that we can get some idea of numbers.
Contact email: Dominic Bailey
Dress Code: As it is likely to be a hot day, please wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
No flowers please, but donations, if desired, to Medecins Sans Frontières or RNLI.
Southend Crematorium, 285 Sutton Road, Southend on Sea Essex SS2 5PX (map)Chalkwell Park Rooms, Chalkwell Park, London Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex SS0 8NB (map)
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