Thanks for everything! A tribute to Chris
www.community-options.org.uk
Dear Chris I first met you in June 1998 when I came in to carry out the Investors in People Assessment on Bromley Care Services. That is also when I first met John Wates and realised my acquaintances Heather and Ted had also fallen under your spell. At the time you were the Central Services Manager, but it was obvious that you were truly central to this wonderful charity, acting as its heart and the touchstone of the organisation’s values.
You have positively touched many people’s lives – clients/ service user/staff/trustees offering them all support and sound advice. We could not have operated as an effective board without your wise counsel.
I was not surprised that you subsequently progressed to Deputy Chief Executive and then Chief Executive. You had and have a very wide skill set, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills.
You have steered us through many challenging situations with a fearless enthusiasm to get things done. Community Options would not be the success it is today without you.
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All good things come in small packages! And we have had seventeen and a half years of good fortune in having you work with us. We all believe that your new charity is very lucky to have you and we wish you all the best in your new role. Keep in touch! Warmest regards Robin
Best of the best! London Excellence Our Chris is ‘Best of the Best’
Humour and kindness Your humour, kindness and fantastic support is going to be sorely missed. Thank you for making me feel special. You have been a Central Services Manager and a Chief Executive Officer, but you are always a MUM’ to me.
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Song from 2011 Sung to Jingle Bells Dashing home we know from a long hard working day O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way… ha ha ha Horn on cars do ring Making moods unbright So we have to laugh and sing A silly song alright
Comm Ops Jingle
Oh, Community Ops Community Ops Think what have you done Oh what fun it is to have helped someone today ……hey Community Ops Community Ops Living life this way Makes us proud to be part of This hap hap happy day
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A year or two ago We thought we’d need a guide And soon the recovery star Was seated by our side The journey was not so smooth Turns along the way We work hard to keep on track and make it everyday
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Oh, Community Ops Community Ops Think what have you done Oh what fun it is to have helped someone today ……hey Community Ops Community Ops Living life this way Makes us proud to be part of This hap hap happy day
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Song from 2012
Blowing our own trumpets Sung to she’ll be coming around the mountain We are blowing our own trumpets , here we come We are blowing our own trumpets , here we come We have hot so many targets, Grown 30 per cent Working here is such a lot of fun
We have got a brand new structure, North and South We are talking we are sharing, watch your mouth We’ve got HET new systems, don’t let me you dis ‘em And nailed the standards of the CQC
Sing now Branching Out and SUIP, Ausi Bank Sing now Harmony and ACE and Cygnet too Sing now Avenues and SweetTree Stafford House and Horse Leaze Edith Rd, and Balaam Street and you
Singin’ Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye Singin’ Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye Singin’ Aye Aye Yippee, Aye Aye Yippee Aye Aye Yippee Yippee Aye.
Or singing a song!
We are managing performance, PLS Increasing your performance from the rest Staff all know Comm Ops vision Set their learning outcomes The staff survey was the written test Sing now we have had no ET’s, aren’t we blessed HR data has been transferred, what a quest We have TUPE’d all the New P’s, Got volunteers as groupies Joining us to feather our big nest
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Your care for us all
You have created an environment not just a workplace that makes it easy for people to approach you at any time. I appreciate your openness and care for us all.
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Song from 2012
Community Rhapsody Sung to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody Is this the real life Is this just fantasy Caught in the changes No escape from reality Open your eyes Look up to the skies and see Were not a poor org, we need no sympathy Because were flexible, positive Adaptable, creative Any way they challenge us doesn’t really matter to me
People Just have to say About the good things we have done IIP and 10k run People we have just begun But now were going to rise and take them all People OOH Don’t mean to make you cry But were so proud of what you all have done Carry on Carry on all we do that maters Today the time has come To share in what we’ve done Make a business plan in time Hi there everybody, see what we’ve done Newham, Sutton and restructuring People Ooh We set up the CEIS Introduced the recovery star
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I see the vision and the mission of our org Scaramouche Scaramouche will you do the Fandango Sun shining and brightness Very very enlightening me Trustees Trustees Trustees here we go Magnifico Staff are essential very important Always learning to work with each other Building a team creates a better family Contracts come contracts go, will we let them go. Community ! No we will not let them go (have to grow) Community! We will not let them go
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Going the extra mile! (have to grow) Community! will not let them go (have to grow) Will not let you go (have to grow) Will not let you go (Never never never let you go) Ah No no no no no no no (Oh Service Users Service Users) Services Users we all know. Icare that David put in place for me, for me, for me. So you think you have the plans to make services right? So you think you can grow and make the future bright Oh staff we can do this staff Just gotta work it out, just gotta work it out right here (oh yeah Oh yeah) Clients are what matters Anyone can see Clients are what matters Clients are what matters to me
You will be missed for your great enthusiasm, dedication, time and humour that you brought to the success of the company. There are no substitutes for your fantastic rapport with each and every one of us. You make us want to go the extra mile. Thank you for the meaningful support, you have showered on me over the years.
Any way the org grows.
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Quotes:
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RAP fr
Chris – I have found you very warm, professional and easy to talk too, which I have never experience from a CEO in my working life. So I would like to applaud you for your approachable nature, you are a dying breed.
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You really bring light to the organisation and your approach towards staff is always really genuine and that is why I am really fond of you.
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rom 2011
The Christabella Rap Let me tell you a story about our boss Chris Who I am sure you’ll agree we are all gonna miss For 17 years she has given her heart and soul and I’m not too sure if we should let her go. This rap is a tribute to all she has achieved, leading us in being the bees knees. Christabella is her name given by me, bell of the ‘balls’ I am sure you agree. Christabella I’m gonna miss ya Christabella were gonna miss ya She has many qualities that I wish to tell you about Governance and strategy, organising and coaching me. She is fun and kind and sensitive considering us all and how we like to live. She had led us to have a good business plan, changed our name and improved our game. Christabella our great leader Christabella were gonna miss ya
Now you’re going to pastures a new I wish you the best in all that you do. Just remember all of us here and the years we were together and our special Christmas cheer. Thinking of you makes me smile and will keep me going for quite a while. Thank you for all you have done for us good luck my friend I won’t make a fuss. Christabella I’m gonna miss ya Christabella were gonna miss ya
With Love From Tracy
Making our parties always a success, entertaining us all will her voice and finesse. She is able to do many talented things bringing us together as one big team. She knows how to sing and tap dances, does impressions and that running thing. She makes good tea and a mean lemon cake, is genuine and true and never a fake Christabella I’m gonna miss ya Christabella were gonna miss ya
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We will really miss you...
We will really miss you at our next festive celebrations and will also remember you at our next Christmas carol sing off. I will never forget the support, concern and care you have shown for me as a person instead of an employee. This kind of culture starts from the top.
www.community-options.org.uk