Chris Vickers, Superstar. Thank you and it’s a privilege to be asked by Cheryl, Warren, and the family to share with you a little insight for the one and only Chris Vickers. So many Motor trade friends and ex colleagues have travelled from all over the country to be here today, as well a number flying in from Spain and Scotland. Chris and I first met in Holland over 30 years ago whilst we were both working for Sikkens at the time.Even after that meeting I didn’t know Chris that well as we were in different sales regions.However from that first meeting you could tell that Chris was a fun loving person with a special sense of humour plus all round entertainer. At Sikkens Chris enjoyed or endured the nickname of TWINKLETOES due to his passion for dancing. I mentioned entertainer, Chris participated as a member of the Sikkens South east team onstage, portraying a bodyshop in the year 2000, this took place in the early 80’s, Chris was in his shiny silver suit half robot and half spaceman acting the part of a spray painter. At a later part of his life he would be back on stage hypnotised without a care in the world.He was to be seen on stage in his imaginary bath having a good scrub up and then riding his bicycle. Both Chris and I had worked for Brown Brothers before joining Sikkens. I later moved to DuPont and during a trade show back in 1987 held at Earls Court Chris came on the DuPont stand. Hello Pal, remember me? Chris was looking for a new challenge and asked if I would bare him in mind for any jobs that may come up at DuPont. We moved swiftly and Chris joined DuPont 18 months later, taking over part of my old area in the South West and, according to Ray Fitchett, it was about time we had someone professional in the South West. When it came to professionalism there was no one better than Chris. There was nobody smarter, better dressed or more impressive than Chris. Just one word described Chris - IMACULATE. Chris’s first meeting with his colleagues took place at the Westmead hotel in Birmingham back in 1989. Chris sat down and placed a black beret on his head and then said in the voice of Frank Spencer, “I’m going to do some impressions for you”. This followed with the usual Frank Spencer speaking to Betty routine. Directly after he took off his beret and (still in the voice of Frank Spencer)said “And now for my second impression” - Chris threw the beret across the table and said “did anybody get it ” We all looked at each other, then Chris said “give up? That was Chuck beret.” So Chris had announced himself to his team mates as only Chris could. Starting as a Tech Sales Rep, then Sales Manager for the South of the UK, a number of the team are here today which just shows the respect and impact Chris has had on people. Chris took over as Marketing Manager not only for the UK but also Sweden & Norway. Chris was instrumental with getting UPD off the ground on behalf of DuPont. With Barrie, Chris organised some great events at Wentworth and with Ray the famous OEM triathlon annual event with the likes of Ford, General Motors plus other leading car manufactures. In addition Chris worked with both Williams and Jaguar F1 managing DuPont’s UK sponsorship.The flexibility to change job role just demonstrated how supportive, willing and able Chris was. I always saw Chris as not only a fun loving person, but also as a very warm person with a big heart. Those aspects were clearly evident with Chris’s support to Barbara during the time of Mike Yeatman’s near fatal accident. At Barbara’s time of need, Chris was there to provide total support and Mike and Barb have flown back from their home in Spain to be here today. As for fun loving Chris, there was the time when we were in Belgium with Mike who after a very good evening’s entertainment had elected to turn in early for the night, much to Chris’s and my disappointment. Not to be deterred, and like naughty school boys, we tried to wake Mike but he would not answer the bedroom door. Chris said, “come on Mooresy let’s go to my room and get him on the phone”. As I’m calling Mike who eventually answered the phone. Chris had emptied the waste paper basket in the bathroom. No correction waste paper bucket and managed to fill it with many litres of water. So off we go to Mike’s room Chris complete with bucket. I knocked on the door and there was our target in just his underwear In a FLASH Chris delivered the entire contents of the bucket and Mike was soaked from head to foot. All we could hear was Mike asking if we were both born out of wedlock. If it wasn’t throwing buckets of water then it was the time he showed his leadership to his team at Warwick castle. It was not a fancy dress evening but because it was a medieval function Chris Vickers dressed as the Court Jester and his other team members complemented their leader in full fancy dress. Chris was a key member of the DuPont Refinish management team and a number of those are here today including Brian, Ray, Don & Kevin. In December 2012 Chris called me to ask my advice. Andy I have the opportunity to leave DuPont with the DuPont package, what do you think? Chris, do it. And he did. So Chris departed from DuPont at the end of 2012, I managed to arrange for Chris to meet with Danny sales director for HMG Paints and the next thing was that Chris was being transferred from DuPont to HMG just before the January transfer deadline. Chris was a consultant at HMG and he really enjoyed the fresh challenge and the fact that the people were so genuine, something that Chris could only benchmark and often spoke about. You could sense just how proud Chris was of Warren and the special relationship they enjoyed. And yet, both endured supporting Southampton FC. I know that Warren remembers his visit to Man U with Chris last year with great affection courtesy of HMG & Danny. Thank you Danny and John Falder for making that happen, Chris was very grateful to be given that opportunity. And a great memory for Warren. As the ex-DuPont management team, we still tried to meet up. We did this last December and we were so pleased for Chris to join us for our Christmas bash in Birmingham. This February we were all back together to be with Chris, and the love of his life Cheryl and Chris’s family in Exmouth. We wanted Chris to know that we were all concerned, but more importantly we just wanted to be with him. Chris Vickers: •Colleague •Your friend •My very good friend Chris Vickers: •Immaculate •Articulate •Fun loving •Highly respected and very much loved. Above all a Superstar AND a fighter to the end. We will miss you, but never forget you. God bless Chris Vickers.