A lifetime of service
CHRISTOPHER Edwards was born in eShowe to Nancy and Raoul Edwards, a pharmacist and businessman in the town.
He matriculated from Durban High School (DHS) in 1950, before furthering his tertiary studies in Cape Town.
In 1958 the young sportsman and qualified pharmacist opened Edwards Pharmacy in Union Street, a landmark building that still stands today.
It was the third (and largest) branch of Edwards Pharmacy, the first was opened by his father in iXopho in 1928, and the second in eShowe in 1930.
Chris married his sweetheart Erica Cherie McLaghlan in 1961 - to the dismay of many young ladies in Zululand - and together they had three daughters - Margot (1961), Janice (1967) and Rozanne (1971).
His daughters describe him as a loving father, who was quietly besotted with his grandchildren Dominik, Jessica, Chesney, Emma, Matthew, Christoper and Rupert, a mentor to his sons-in-law Andrew, Mark and Leon, and loving brother to Eve Weyers.
His quiet philanthropy and vested interest in the community (he served proudly as a Rotarian for many years) saw him awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 1992.
His carefully collected boxes of memorabilia over the years are a testament to his friendship with many around the world, and overflow with carefully hand-written letters of thanks and appreciation as well as certificates of appreciation for various acts of service and kindness in the community.
Besides his beloved daughters, he was a father figure to many young men who flourished under his quiet and understated leadership over the years.