Tributes have poured in following the sudden death at just 43 of photographer, dedicated football supporter and father of three Chris Collier.
His devastated fiancé, family and friends say they have been left stunned by his death, understood to be after a cardiac arrest, on Sunday, February 5.
Richmond Town FC will be holding a minute’s applause at this weekend’s games in celebration of Chris’s life.
His heartbroken fiancé Samantha Sparkles said he was a devoted dad to his three children and step dad to her adult children.
A lifelong Sunderland AFC fan, he was a retired parachute regiment captain having served in the Army for more than 20 years, working for charities when he left before taking up a post as campus manager at St Francis Xavier School in Richmond and setting up his photography business Airborne Artwork.
He was a keen supporter of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, set up for the six year old Sunderland fan who died in 2017 following a battle with neuroblastoma cancer, which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for research and help for families. He was also a keen supporter of the Lighthouse Therapy Group.
A spokesperson for Richmond Town FC said: “Chris was a previous committee member, a good friend of many, and a true supporter of the club. His media work and photography both for the club and his personal collection were outstanding and will be a lasting tribute. Our thoughts are with Chris's family and three talented young children.”
St Francis Xavier School said: “It is with deep sadness that we are mourning the loss of Chris Collier, Campus Manager from our school community. Chris was a kind and caring man who would always help and look out for others with a smile. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.”
Fiancé Samantha has thanked everyone for their messages of support and paid her own special tribute. She said: “Words cannot express how much everyone’s well wishes and words mean to me, I’m truly devastated my whole world has been taken from me. My heart hurts beyond anything I have ever felt. I cannot believe how much this news has spread and how many people have commented or sent messages, Chris always wanted to go viral and I know he would have been excited to do so.
“I’m in awe. He was so loved and we need to see that right now. I can’t believe how many people have commented and shared this most tragic news and I find myself reading through every comment looking for some kind of support and I suppose comfort although I read through tears. I can’t believe it’s real. You do not understand how much we loved each other and I’m not supposed to be planning his death, I’m supposed to be planning our life together, all our adventures including our wedding next year.
“My darling Chris, my whole world, my Mr Sparkles. I cannot believe you’re gone. I am in pain. My children are in pain they loved you beyond anything you could imagine. your mum, dad, sisters, your poor children, your friends we are all in pain. You’re not supposed to be gone.”
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