Friends pay tribute to 'absolute warrior' at funeral procession of Portsmouth nightclub promoter Chris Cole

FRIENDS and colleagues have lined a Fratton street for the funeral procession of Chris Cole, ‘an absolute warrior’ and popular club promoter who has died at the age of 30.
By Richard Lemmer
Published 16th Mar 2021, 14:02 BST
Updated 16th Mar 2021, 14:08 BST
Chris Cole. Picture: Portsmouth Hospitals TrustChris Cole. Picture: Portsmouth Hospitals Trust
Chris Cole. Picture: Portsmouth Hospitals Trust

Chris died on February 12 following many operations throughout his life to treat Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare form of bowel disease.

His funeral was held a private ceremony earlier today, with dozens of friends and former colleagues lining St Mary’s Road to pay their respects to ‘the nicest bloke in the world’.

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Beck Baldrey, who met Chris more than five years ago when he was working as a club promoter in central Portsmouth said: ‘He was a big people person – he knew how to get people in and have a good time.

From left, Kirsty Mathews, 25, from Winchester, Connor Metcalf, 26, from Southampton and George Bay, 27, from Hilsea Picture: Richard Lemmer (160321-1)From left, Kirsty Mathews, 25, from Winchester, Connor Metcalf, 26, from Southampton and George Bay, 27, from Hilsea Picture: Richard Lemmer (160321-1)
From left, Kirsty Mathews, 25, from Winchester, Connor Metcalf, 26, from Southampton and George Bay, 27, from Hilsea Picture: Richard Lemmer (160321-1)

‘He was always the life and soul of the party.

‘And he was a fighter.’

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Even while he was confided to a ward in Queen Alexandra Hospital for the last three years of his life, Chris continued to work as a digital marketer.

Kelly Tennant, 33, and Isabelle Blake, 28 Picture: Sarah Standing (160321-5201)Kelly Tennant, 33, and Isabelle Blake, 28 Picture: Sarah Standing (160321-5201)
Kelly Tennant, 33, and Isabelle Blake, 28 Picture: Sarah Standing (160321-5201)

Isabelle Blake, another of Chris’s friends, said: ‘Even when I saw him in hospital, he was a ray of sunshine. My mum wasn’t very well and I didn’t know Chris was in the same hospital as her.

‘I visited her and there Chris was serving her a cup of tea.

‘I thought he would outlive us all.’

SEE ALSO: Brothers of well-known Gosport family forced to leave council home after mum's sudden death

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Now the city has lost ‘a big part of the Portsmouth night life scene’, according to Kelly Tennant, who met Chris during her time working at The Grapes bar, in London Road.

She added: ‘Working with Chris are times I will never forget.’

Friend Connor Metcalf said that Chris ‘would want us to celebrate and raise a glass’ in his memory.

Connor added: ‘He was the nicest bloke in the world and he was an absolute warrior.’

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‘Absolutely unstoppable’ in the face of adversity, was how Kirsty Mathews summed up her friend.

Former housemate and Hilsea resident George Bay said: ‘He always kept fighting and fighting.

‘He lived life to the full.’

Chris leaves behind his mother Sylvia, his father Dave, step-dad Kev, step-mum Emma, and siblings Benji, Josie, Sebastian, Thomas, Anthony, Logan, Chloe and Alfie, and nephew Cameron.

The family have asked for donations to be made to Frimley Park Hospital or Transplant UK.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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