In Loving Memory of
Chris Figgis (2004-2022)
It is with the greatest of sadness that we have heard the tragic news that Chris Figgis has died. Chris was a talented and hugely liked member of the Kent College community. He started here in Year 5 and left the school in the summer of 2022. He enjoyed everything the school had to offer, from being a part of the choristers when he started and, of course, excelling on the hockey pitch both at school and at Polo Farm. He spent his final year as Deputy Head Boy, serving the community which he had been a significant part of for so long. He touched the lives of so many colleagues and his fellow pupils. We will all miss him greatly. Please use this book to share your messages and memories of Chris.
Book Owner: Kent College, Canterbury
Book Size:Â 500 Messages
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Mr Phillips
No words can convey the true feeling or understanding of saying goodbye to Chris yesterday. He was, and always will be, the brightening start to my morning at KC. He’d usually moan about something, reference golf in every sentence and we’d always compare socks! I feel fortunate to have known and taught Chris at different stages and I know that my life, and many others, is better for that. His unfaltering kindness, intellect and humour will live in the walls of KC for a long time to come. He really was the best of us and will be sorely missed. “Nothing beats kindness’, said the horse. ‘It sits quietly beyond all things” Charlie Mackesy …
Darren Scott
Chris was my favourite type of sportsman. Classy but understated. He never wanted the limelight but would win matches without a fuss. Cricket was never his number one sport but he clearly had talent and the battle was always to convince him to believe in himself. He captained the first team on occasion in his final year at KC. A pleasure to be around he had the utmost repsect from his peers and from the coaches. My longlasting memories of Chris though are not on the sports field. It was the quiet chats in the quad in passing, reminding me of how poor Nottingham Forest were at the weekend or him moaning about how poor Fred was in the United team. The games of pool in the common room and the support that he gave the current year 12s. He was always there. They are my memories of a lovely boy who gave so much to everything and everybody. He achieved so much in such a short time. My thoughts are with Sean, Steph and Ali at this impossible time. Darren Scott…
KC Admissions & Marketing Department
Our deepest sympathies are with Chris’s family and friends. Our department came to know Chris through his role as Deputy Head Boy. Some of his responsibilities included taking part in films and photoshoots, giving tours of the school to prospective families and prefect duties at events, which the Admissions and Marketing team coordinate. Chris soon cottoned on to the fact that prospective families and events are well catered for and made sure he was always 5 minutes early, not only to be respectful of his duties but to sample a few sausage rolls and slices of cake. We all had a soft spot for Chris. Sporty, witty, easy to talk to and clearly very bright. He was not embarrassed to give us a wave from across a busy quad at break time, nor too shy to pop into the office to ask for a biscuit or 2. We will always remember how happy you looked singing and dancing along to Bastille in the House song for Arts Week with the rest of Marlowe upper school. You may not have known all the words or all the moves to the dance routine but what you lacked in finesse you made…
Gabbi Cornelius-Merrell
Figgy was just one of those people who always managed to make me laugh especially in situations where we probably shouldn’t be laughing. He managed to get away with things that nobody else could, just because he was Figgy. I will always remember him for his stupid flamingo tie that he never took off or the Christmas socks that he wore all year round even though he always said how much he hated Christmas. The hours of study he spent watching cricket or golf, even though I told him every time that they were the most boring sports to watch. He never did any of his work and yet still managed to get 100% in all of his tests, even when he’d ask me two minutes before what the test is actually on. He made it impossible for Ella and I to get through a geography lesson without laughing when he was constantly making comments behind us, he always did manage to find a way to bring up Brexit even when it had nothing to do with what we were talking about, just to try and start an argument with Eliot. My favourite geography lesson will always be when…
Emily White
My lasting memory of Chris will always be his warmth, kindness and wonderful sense of humour. I am not sure he particularly enjoyed English GCSE, but he still excelled in it, showing dedication in all his work and attending lessons with a good-natured attitude and a mature work ethic. He worked with his pals: Jess, Scarlett, Molly, Kiera, Barney, Tom, Basil and Harry in lessons, and together they propped up the back row of the English class. It was only when a school hockey match was being played, which he could tantalisingly see out of the corner of his eye from the window of E1, that he struggled to fully concentrate! Although I didn’t teach him in the sixth form, I enjoyed seeing him around our school, always showing a willingness to help or support those around him. He always seemed to rather enjoy wearing his prefect gown on the mornings of Lower School Chapel, standing at the door of the Great Hall and showing students where to sit with a smile or a quiet joke at the ready. He was an exemplary role model to students in lower year groups: a sportsman and an academic, a kind and…
Ella Jain
Chris and I would always be the first people in the common room and often he started the morning by locking me out. He’d then win at table football and pool and would never fail to remind me that I had probably lost my hockey match by at least 7-0 at the weekend. He would walk into our morning geography lessons like he had gone through the whole day already when in fact it would only be 10.30, he would be doing up his flamingo tie (never a different one) and sorting out his trouser legs which seemed to be up at his knees! Chris was one of those people who never did any work yet he would get full marks, I distinctly remember him asking Gabbi and I what case studies we needed to know as we were walking into the year 12 geography exam, he then gets 15/16 on the essay – make it make sense. Another memory I will never forget is when, on my birthday, he stole 6 packets of the mini colins and ate them all (there were five cakes in each). Whenever he played hockey his socks never stayed up and would be…
Andy Clark
As a very pleasant and likeable character, I had the great pleasure of teaching Chris A Level Physics. Academically he excelled, being a bright student with an open mind, he would successfully take on problem solving activities. Chris made the lessons an enjoyable and fun experience, being always willing to get involved. There was an excellent dynamic within the group, Chris was always willing to help the others. His friends: Neo, Harry, Titus, and Omar, may have sometimes been distracted from the work, and Anna and Han would be wondering what on Earth was going on; but they always completed what needed to be done. He always had a great sense of humour and his cheeky ways allowed for much good natured banter; usually football related, but he took as well as he gave! During staff student Hockey matches this also came across; In one match when I was marking him, he took the shirt pulling and holding (unsporting football tactic) as a compliment with that usual smile on his face. You were a bright light for many of us. Rest in Peace Chris….
Melvin Hoi
Bro I met you since i was year 10, lots of memories over these four years. You are so talkative and friendly, when I first came to UK I was so shy I can’t even speak to any native. However you still approach me and talk with me, i am so glad to meet you. Unfortunately because of the pandemic I can’t met you in yr 12, we only able to see each other from the online lessons. When we stepped up to year 13 which is our last year, finally I can meet you in person. Year 13 such a memarable year, whether we fight for the exams or having the very last high school life. Especially during math class which is only class I am with you, you always make everyone laugh in the class. Whole of our class are very appreciate to your humor. You are such a Chicken Dinosaur!!!!!! I hope you are doing well on the other side of the world. The memories between you and me will always be in my mind. What a pleasure to meet you in my entire life! …
Anna Silver
The world has lost such a wonderful person. Having met aged ten and grown up together, it is a great loss that we can no longer watch each other thrive. From being in the same form and basically every maths and English class since yr7 to the most recent, our chaotic a-level physics classes and everything in between, the memories we made will live on. I will forever miss the cricket talk during class and arguments with Mr Clark about whose football team is best whilst still managing to be the top of the class. Without my weekly question as to what physics work was due I wouldn’t be where I am now and for that I am forever grateful. My fondest memory is of playing round with diffraction gratings and ‘funky’ glasses worryingly close to a-level exams and laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face, when I come across those pictures to this day it still makes me chuckle. Chris has always been there for all of us, and I know that as a year group we will never be the same again. I hope that Chris is looking down on us and we can all…
Reese Robinson
Having been to school with Chris from junior school until I left in year 9, I remember having pretty much every Maths and English class with him. I remember days when we’d do cross country together in junior school and later tussle on the hockey pitch in a girls vs boys match (though he was always way way better than me!!) Although I left KC prematurely, I’ll always remember these times and have been devastated to hear of the passing of Figgy. RIP Figgy, you’ll be missed dearly x …
Jackie Spencer
My abiding memory of Chris will be his engaging smile and sense of fun. He contributed much to the Music at the Junior School, both as a Chorister (performing in two national competitions and on tour in Austria) and playing Percussion & Euphonium in the Orchestra. I was so very sorry to hear of his death and send much love to his family at this incredibly sad time….
Bea Alonso
It is very difficult to express the sadness that I felt when I heard the news about Chris who started his time in KC as a young Marlowe student in my Yr7 BAH tutor group. ”Vale la pena” (it is worth it) was one of Chris’ signature sentences in Spanish, and with this saying and his infectious enthusiasm, Chris encouraged his classmates to participate and have a go speaking the language. In those days, competition between Chris and Harry to be the top Spanish student was fierce, both brilliant and talented linguists. Chris’ wicked sense of humour allowed us to enjoy many memorable moments in lessons from year 7 to 11. The Spanish Department will forever be grateful to Chris for his legendary “Figgis Law”: a rule he created in year 9 to explain the conjugation of some quite complex irregular verbs. To this day, I proudly continue to use the “Figgis Law”, as we named it then, to explain this element of the grammar in my lessons. The photo here was taken during one lesson when we made Gazpacho, which Chris did rate very highly as he was not the most adventurous eater in those days. Chris will…
Belinda Ingham
I was lucky enough to teach Chris for 3 years. I have such fond memories of teaching him in year 9 when he sat towards the back with Harry, Barney and Tom Hagan. Four of the best mathematicians, yet scruffiest in the presentation of their work! I regularly had to defend these boys from the unwanted (?!) attention of the 4 chatty girls, Reese, Channice, Gabi and Issie; who sat in front of them. ‘Miss, we just want to do our Maths’ Chris would plead, with his tongue firmly in his cheek! It was a delight to teach Chris again in my A Level class, along with some of the characters from the same year 9 class, Jason, Tom Lou, and Angelina. He had grown, got even more proficient at his maths, but unfortunately his presentation had still not improved! Chris was a godsend to teach during lockdown, one of the few who would turn his camera on and speak to me! Often telling me stories of his dog, especially each time mine made an unplanned appearance on camera! When we returned to school he continued to be my saviour, regularly saving my dignity by acting as my…
Dominic Corrigan
I remember Chris well from his time in the Junior School. His smile, wit and humour were always a source of amusement and his enthusiasm for all he did was evident. He will be missed by all of us who met him….
Timi Ayeni
I was shocked and sad to hear the news of chris’ untimely passing even though, i knew him for a short time while in Kent College; he was a funny and loyal person who lighted up the room with a smile and a laugh on your face and he made sure that you were all right and comfortable as well when you were sad and not in the mood but he was a friend to me and everyone else in the year group as he was a kind, well loved and respected person in the school and everyone else. I send my deepest condolences and thoughts to chris’ family, friends and people who knew him for many years he spent with us on earth and may god bless his soul and may he find peace in heaven. Rest in Peace Chris we will miss you and continue to share your legacy you left while you were here and we would never forget you and we would always love you. …
