A former teacher at Alston’s Samuel King’s School, Christopher Edward Sharp, died at his home in Alston, aged 74.
Born on February 27 1947, to Eddie and Marie, he gently passed away on January 4 following several years of illness.
From the East End of London, Chris was the first student from Downsell Road Primary School to pass the 11-plus exam, enabling him to attend Leyton County High School for Boys.
While there he proved to be academically bright and a very able sportsman, playing football for the school and representing Essex at diving and cross-country. However, he knew from an early age he wanted to go to art college.
Following a year at Walthamstow College of Art, he moved to Newport Art College where he became one of the Young Contemporaries of 1967, exhibiting his work Alarus at the Tate.
The preview itself made a newspaper, as the sculpture — to do with perspective and space — was specifically exhibited on the floor so the dimensions could be appreciated, but, because of this it was damaged by some previewers’ feet, leading to the headline “Footprints scar his work of art”.
Having moved to Alston, Chris became very well known and respected.
He taught at Samuel King’s School, where he influenced countless lives with his strong sense of loyalty, strong morals and fighting spirit.
Students, almost without exception, refer to him as being their favourite and “coolest” teacher who made lessons fun.
Relatively recently Chris and his wife Barbara had conversations with former students who “still had the chopping board/table” they made in his woodwork class.
While being cared for at home when he became increasingly ill, his wife said it was lovely to see the respect former students, now working for the NHS, had for him.
“I will still have to call you Mr Sharp,” said one, and another, asked politely, as if still in the classroom: “Is it OK to go to Nenthead, sir, but I’ll come back later?”
Chris was a wonderful man who loved the relationships he built with students and these have lasted decades. Many of them only ever called him Sharpy and he, in return, used their nicknames from school.
After he left Samuel King’s School, Chris continued working in education and helped establish TVEI (Technical and Vocational Educational Initiative) in the county.
He had a way of communicating with young people that made it evident to them he respected them and wanted the best for them.
Alongside being known in the community as a teacher, he was a parish councillor for many years and a trustee of the town hall.
A recent copy of the Herald had a photograph from 25 years ago showing Chris and other members of the Alston Moor Action Partnership, having won the Cumbrian round of the Rural Challenge competition, setting off for London to present their bid to try to win one of £1m awards.
Although they failed to win, the group were determined to continue the revitalisation and promotion of Alston Moor.
Chris proved throughout his time in Alston Moor that he was committed to the community in which he lived. Many years ago, when he first moved to the area and lived at Ashgill, he received a commendation for rescuing several people from the snow.
Three people had to abandon their cars and two set off on foot to look for help. On their way to a funeral, Chris and Barbara saw two men walking through the snow in their suits. They were turning blue and one had his hand frozen to his head.
Chris took them inside and contacted the police before setting off to find the third man, waiting with his vehicle. He found and walked the last man back to his house and called the police again.
The chief constable wrote Chris a letter, saying he was grateful that there were people in the community who would willingly give help to his officers.
Chris is survived by his wife, Barbara, son Max, daughter Lissie, son-in-law Daniel, brother Steve and grandchildren Samantha, Lily and Eric.
His funeral took place at Carlisle crematorium, where friends and family celebrated the influence and impact he had on so many lives, and remembered the fun-filled years of friendship and laughter.
As a close friend said: “There is a Chris-shaped hole in many hearts.”
