Tributes paid to Ledbury community stalwart

Friends have paid tribute to Ledbury stalwart Chris Johnson who has died at the age of 66.

Chris retired early from a London law firm in order to work in forestry, and moved with his young family to the market town in 1998.

He was attracted to Herefordshire by its strong sense of community, the wonderful range of independent businesses and the fact that the county is one of the most wooded in England.

He re-qualified as a chartered forester while overseeing the restoration of the derelict Upper Hall and went on to manage woodlands owned by private estates and charities such as the Woodland Trust and RSPB.

His involvement in Ledbury was wide ranging.

Under his watch as chairman of the Ledbury and District Civic Society, he prevented the closure of the Heritage Centre by the then owners, Herefordshire Council by negotiating a management transfer of the building to the Civic Society, and subsequently facilitated the ownership transfer to Ledbury Places.

He and his team modernised the Burgage Hall and it is now one of the most popular venues in Ledbury.

Chris’s involvement with other organisations included Ledbury Places, the Ledbury Poetry Festival, the Ledbury & Strömstad Twinning Association and he was the Secretary to the Herefordshire Division of the Royal Forestry Society.

He was also active in supporting the Ledbury Area Cycle Forum, assisting as marshal/mechanic on community bike rides and maintaining the signs along the popular Ledbury Loop cycle route.

Andy Tector, chairman on behalf of the Ledbury and District Civic Society, said they were deeply shocked by the sad news of Chris’s death
“Our thoughts and hearts are with Chris’s family at this difficult time,” he said.

“He was such a lovely man and such a pleasure to work with, nothing was too much trouble for him and he always managed to find an answer for any problem we put to him.”

Mark Waller, Ledbury Places chairman, said: “The people of Ledbury owe Chris a huge debt of gratitude for the contribution he made towards the preservation and maintenance of many of the historic buildings, which make our town so unique.

“Nearly ten years ago now, Chris’s reinvigoration of the Ledbury & District Civic Society enabled it to obtain and manage a significant feasibility study grant, which in turn led to the formation of Ledbury Places.

“His inspirational ideas and boundless energy will always be remembered.

“He was also heavily involved in keeping the Heritage Centre open and strengthening it, until such time as Ledbury Places was in a position to take it on.

“His management of the Burgage Hall has given the town a vibrant venue from the Country Market to fitness classes, meetings, events and so much more. Chris was always at the very centre of these valued community activities.

“We must all ensure that his legacy to our town lives on.”

Peter Arscott, Trustee LPF, said: “All of us at the Ledbury Poetry Festival are reeling at the news, and our hearts go out to his family.

“He was an incredible champion of the Festival and helped out in many ways from the moment he arrived in Ledbury with his family; easy to talk to and always willing to help and go the extra mile.

“He was also full of good ideas and generous with his time, and we are going to miss him.

“Not only the Festival, but the whole of Ledbury will feel the loss – he was such an important part of our community.”

Jill Jupp, Ledbury & Strömstad Twinning Association, said: “Everyone connected with the Twinning both here and in Strömstad are stunned and shaken to hear the news of Chris’s death.

“He was a tremendous supporter of the links between our two communities of friends and had hosted people from Strömstad on several occasions, particularly during school visits.

“The Association have contacted the teacher, Ninni Liljestrand Qvicklund and her students from the Strömstiernaskola, some of whom were hosted by Chris in 2017 and 2019.

“They are very distressed to hear the news and are putting together their own condolences message.

“We can pay no higher tribute than echo the thoughts of everyone we have spoken to about his passing: he was an incredible force for good in the town and his loss leaves an enormous hole in the community.

“Our thoughts are with Chris’s family at this sad time.”

Chris is survived by his wife and two sons.