Chris Roles (KES 1974-80) was born in Southampton and was raised amidst family, Methodism, music, The Saints and Hampshire Cricket – all remaining important to him throughout his life. At KES he joined Sylvester House and played cricket at all levels for both his House and the School.  In the Sixth Form he was appointed Head Librarian (Ashby Room) and under the tuition of Jim Bayliss, the late Mike May and Brian Lyndon and, in his first class at KES, Malcolm Waters, ‘discovered’ economics and devoured history.  He went on to study History and Economics at Pembroke College, Oxford but not before, in his gap year, he had spent seven months volunteering in Zululand, South Africa – then still labouring under Apartheid.  This experience was to have a profound impact on Chris, and he went on to spend nearly all his working life in the charitable sector.  He started out with Action Aid, then Christian Aid, a brief stint at the Royal College of Music, then the YMCA and Y-Care International before becoming, in 2012, the Chief Executive of Age International.  He also served in several trustee positions including the BBC’s Appeals Advisory Committee and the Disasters Emergency Committee.  After his retirement from Age International in 2022 he took on roles as a Lay Canon and occasional preacher at Winchester Cathedral and was a trustee for the Pensions Trust and Wesley House, Cambridge.  Chris was enthusiastically involved with all three organisations until his final illness overtook him.

After Oxford, and upon moving to London, Chris became an active member of the Hinde Street Methodist Church, revelling in its progressive social action, and trained to be a preacher.  He continued preaching throughout his life, his last service being on Mothering Sunday 2025.

In 1992 Chris married Penny, also a member of the Hinde Street Congregation, and they went on to have three children, Ollie, Sam and Miranda.  In 2008 the family moved from London to Winchester to be near both sets of parents and, of course, both his beloved Saints and Hampshire Cricket.

In 2022 Chris revisited KES for the ‘Year of 1980 40th Reunion’ (delayed by Covid) and much enjoyed renewing old friendships.

Chris was taken suddenly ill in March 2025, and he died peacefully at home just ten weeks later.  Chris’s life was spent in the service of others, and he will be greatly missed by his family and by all those whose lives he touched and enhanced.