Uncle Mumbley Jumbley to our children, Eddie to his colleges at Rockstar or Chris Edwards to the rest of the world was an amazing man. I first met him one evening when Matt and I, his new girl friend, were doing the rounds of introducing me to all his best friends. Chris was so welcoming. He loved Star Wars and Star Trek and agreed Babalon5 was amazing if you could just get past series 1. His room was filled with sci Fi memorabilia and I knew straight away this was someone I wanted to be friends with.
Time passed and many an evening was spent either at each others houses or propping up the bar in Blues bar. It was in the latter where we had the joy of introducing Chris to his long lost cousin Zara, a kiwi friend who had just discovered she had a hithro unknown first cousin living in Harrogate called Chris Edwards. In fact He was sitting at the table next to ours. That was a magic moment to be a part of. Magic moments did seem to happen to Chris. As time passed and our children arrived Chris morphed into Uncle Mumbley Jumbley. He gave the boys their first go at Guitar Hero and then kitted them out with their own guitars and game to play at home. In his own life Chris’s company Smiley had won the Southpark screen saver contract but most importantly Chris had met Elaine his soul partner and future wife in an online world called Second Life.  Time passed and Chris began to work for Rockstar. Last time I saw him he was so buzzed up about Rockstar winning a bafta for Grand Theft Auto 5. He was so proud to have been a part of that creation.
Ten days ago I heard that Chris had passed away in his sleep. Ten days of shock and disbelief. It’s hard to imagine the world without his happy, warm, friendliness, his fun and excitement about the world he lived in. He was only 44 so young. Too young to die. Today the funeral was packed, standing room only. His coffin was carried in to the Star Wars theme tune, perfect choice. Wonderful things were said and sentiments read out. Throughout it all what shone through was how much of a friend Chris was to us all and how much he will be missed by everyone.