Sadly, I have just come across this page.

I was in a different school from Chris' at PCL but I'm guessing that our Dean and Politics colleague Tony Taylor must have put me on to Chris who was the ultra-enthusiastic Director of the American Studies Resources Centre. I was and am a specialist in United States Government and Politics who had joined PCL from Essex in May 1978.

I remember frequently bumping into an-ever-smiling Chris in the Foyer of 309 Regent Street in the late 70s and early 80s. Such encounters were usually followed by notes inviting me to give talks on US government and politics on the ILEA/ASRC summer schools programme, which he led in active promoting the study of US culture and politics among schools in the UK. Ultimately, when Chris took a sabbatical from PCL from (I think) October 1981 to February 1982, he asked me to become temporary organiser of this programme as well as an evening short course for teachers and others interested in the study of US government and politics (I think, sponsored by the US embassy). At an early stage of my career, this was quite a feather in my cap, both as a means of recognising and promoting my interest in US government and politics and providing me with a leadership opportunity in an early part of my career. When he returned, even now I can recall gratefully the wonderful plaudits he gave me, which included not a little exaggeration that I had speakers on the course arriving at PCL in limousines (not true).

Of course, he later contracted Parkinson's and unfortunately we lost touch. However, I shall always remember him fondly as one of my enthusiastic supporters.

John Owens