Bohemia Village Voice

Chris Fenn

Missing window-cleaner Chris Fenn, 44, of Ellenslea Road, whose body was found washed up on the beach near the Wish Tower at Eastbourne on  November 18th has been described as “one of life’s nice people” and “a real gentleman.” Chris was born at Fernbank Maternity Home, Old London Road, in 1963, the year the Fenns moved to the area. He attended St Mary Star-of-the-Sea Primary School in the Old Town, and then Hastings Grammar School (William Parker) in Parkstone Road. After leaving school he did an apprenticeship as an engineer for BT, where he worked for fourteen years.  After taking voluntary redundancy from BT, Chris trained at Hastings College to become a cabinet maker, and also took a course in plumbing. He started window-cleaning to get some regular money coming in while doing his training, then the window-cleaning escalated into a job which he did for ten years, with customers in both Hastings and Bexhill. While in his late twenties he took a sabbatical from BT and travelled round the world, including India and Japan. Chris’s pastimes, up until a few years ago, included cycling, mountain biking with friends, and running. He had also enjoyed karate, skiing and football. His brother Michael Fenn described Chris as a very considerate man, always very helpful to others and very courteous. Mrs Margaret Fenn, Chris’s mother, said, “Everybody adored him. I don’t think he liked the modern world, really. He was very intelligent, and I don’t think he had enough scope. He was a real gentleman to me; he was always there, waiting. I’m going to miss him for all those lovely things. He was a wonderful son, and he’s missed.”   Chris was unmarried, had no children, and lived on his own. He is survived by his parents, brother Michael, and sister Sally. After Chris’s body was found, his brother said, “Not knowing was worse – he was missing for a month.” His funeral was held at St. Mary’s Star-of-the-Sea on December 4th.