Chris Watling (6 Jul 1950 - 1 Oct 2024)

Chris Watling Sadly passed away on Tuesday 1st October aged 74, after battling Lung Fibrosis for some time.
 
He will be deeply missed by family and friends, but remembered with love and laughter.  

A little bit about Chris…
He was 74 years old – born in 1950 in Luton - the youngest of 3 ,with an older sister Gill and brother Doug, who is sadly no longer with us. His father sadly passed away when he was 6 and then his mother remarried to John Watling some years later – which is when he took his surname. His father’s surname was Martin.

Chris went to school Luton Boys Grammar senior school. He met his ex-wife Val in 1968 at a party and they got married in 1972 in Harpenden Allsaints Church. In November 1972 they went on a trip to Africa for 3-4 months where they lived in a truck and tents shared with other travellers – but were deported from South Africa in February 1973! They had a dog called Suzie. They had 2 children in 1978 and 1981 – Paul & Julianne.

They moved to Southampton in 1976 for Chris' job at SOS Recruitment and he then opened his own recruitment company called Southampton Personnel, with business partner Pete Stephenson, in August 1978 – a week after Paul was born!

Chris & Val bought a big pink house in Bursledon in 1981 called Glencoe Cottage and this was their family home for many years. They had 2 holiday homes over the years in Lanzarote and Cyprus, where they spent many family holidays.

Chris met his current partner Marg in 1990 and they then lived together for the past 30 years at their home in Netley Abbey. Marg has 2 children called Chris and Jo and grandson Louie. Chris lived with Chris and Jo for many of the years that he shared a home with Marg.

Chris was always been a keen walker, runner and cyclist – having completed the London Marathon twice and many other half marathons and Great South Runs. He always had classic cars and motorbikes and a love for music, Indian food, travelling, gardening and being outdoors. His favourite artist was Paul McCartney. Chris spent many hours at music gigs and festivals and in more recent years travelling around in his VW Campervan.

Chris has a real love of life and his parting wish was for everyone to 'live life to the full everyday, because you do not know what's around the corner.' Please join us to celebrate our beloved father, grandfather and partner.
 
The funeral service will take place at
Wessex Vale Crematorium, Bubb Lane,
West End, SO30 2HL
on Tuesday 22nd October at 1.00 pm,
with a celebration to follow at
The Stage Door and The Painted Wagon,
West Marlands Rd, Southampton, SO14 7FW.

The live stream Webcast of the service can be
viewed live and will be available to be viewed
for up to 28 days following the service
Website: https://watch.obitus.com
Username: cuwo1416
Password: 420505

Family flowers only please, but donations are
being accepted on behalf of ‘Mountbatten Hampshire’
and can be made online via this page 
or can be sent
c/o J. Lawrence & Sons (Undertakers) Ltd.,
17 St. Denys Road, Portswood,
Southampton, SO17 2GN