Former nurse dies after mental health struggle
Mini festival is set to mark art revival
AFORMER nurse has died after a long struggle with mental health.
Chris Robinson, 54, from College Bank, is described as having a great sense of humour.
His sisters, Helen Kelsall, 52, and Janet Mason, 55, both from Littleborough, have paid tribute to their brother, who they said had a passion for art and music.
Chris and his sisters were born to parents David, now 78 and Mary, who died five years ago 68, in Syke.
As a young man Chris trained as a nurse, before joining a Buddhist community in Manchester.
Helen said: “He did all sorts. He joined the Buddhist community in his early twenties. He left his nursing at that point.”
He died on June 15.
Chris had trained as a nurse and previously worked on a specialist burns unit in Withington.
He then did a course in art and graphic design in Salford for three years, before moving back to Rochdale.
Helen added: “That tied into his passions, which were music and art.
“He started volunteering at the Mind shop on Yorkshire Street which isn’t there anymore - he became deputy manager, then manager, and he was there from 2004 to 2012.
“Since he left Mind he drifted a bit - he did packing and worked in a factory, some agency work, and a lot of manual jobs.
“In the last couple of years he wasn’t well enough to work.”
The sisters are hoping they could hold an exhibition of Chris’ art in his memory.
Creative Chris, who had a passion for all kinds of music, including folk, would often sing in pubs in Rochdale - he had previously performed at The Flying Horse, and Healey Dell Tea Rooms, where some of his art was also displayed.
The sisters continued: “We think a lot of people will know him from the Mind shop, his art, and his music. When we cleared out his flat, it was full of his pictures.
“He was a lovely guy, everybody who was at the funeral said what a lovely guy he was - he was likable and well-liked.
“Towards the last years of his life he was very into folk music. He was very bright, a clever guy - he was our brother, and we loved him to bits.”
Helen added: “Me and Jan are quite boring and traditional - we would dip our toes in the sea and Chris would be climbing up the 10 metre high diving board, not looking where he was going. He had a great enthusiasm for things.
“If he had something on his mind, he would be single-minded about it.
“He had a good sense of humour - he was very funny.”
Helen said: “He was good fun to be around - he liked festival and all sorts of music, and would go to a rock night in Rochdale.
“In the last years of his life, he went to Syke Methodist Chapel.
“The Rev Helen Johnson said he was somebody new, but he could be quite challenging.
“But he did lots of things that he should have been proud of. We don’t think how isolating Covid has helped.”
Close friend John Siddique read a eulogy at the funeral. He said: “Chris was always the beautiful boy, at least that what I used to call him in my heart. The most talented, most focused intent with the most innocent heart.
“That innocent heart of his always shone through his face no matter where he’d put himself.
“If there is one thread that I think runs through, it’s that he was a searcher.
“A search of answers, a searcher of spiritual truth, a searcher of what would be helpful to people, and a searcher for himself.
“You are part of the fabric of each of us.
“I hope you know how loved you are.”
Chris’ funeral was held at Rochdale Crematorium on Thursday, July 8.
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A SCALED-BACK version of the 20-year strong Littleborough Arts Festival has been launched.
The Arts Festival, which has run in Littleborough for 20 years, was cancelled last year due to the pandemic - but it has now returned with smaller events intended to be Covid safe whilst still engaging local people and local artists.
Chairwoman Steph West, 33, from Littleborough, has been in the role since the AGM last October, 2020.
She said: “The arts festival has been around a long time and has always been volunteer-run.
“A lot of the trustees decided to step down last year so we’ve had a lot of new trustees come in at last year’s meeting.
“We didn’t have a festival last year, so we’re having smaller events this year.
“The first event took place on June 27 - that was a storytelling event.” The next set of events will launch on Saturday, August 7 - these include a story trail, and local art showcased in shop windows.
The local art can be viewed in shop windows on Hare Hill Road, Victoria Street, and Church Street.
Steph continued: “We have commissioned four artists from Ebor Studios in Littleborough to create artwork to be hidden around Hare Hill Park.”
Environmental storyteller, Gordon
Maclellan, known as Creeping Toad, will be leading families around the park on August 7, telling stories.
The event is free, but should be booked online.
Steph said: “The event is for families.
“The theme of the stories is under the sea - we’re thinking about climate change and the environment, including rising sea levels in future.
“Storytellers have created ideas of people evolving into half sea creatures. We are creating a map so people can go around the park - the art will be in the park for two weeks from August 7.
“There will be shop window exhibitions.
“Some of the shops will have art - we are also looking for 10 local artists to display their artwork in shop windows.
“That will run from August 7 to August 20.
“We want to showcase local art, create something positive for people, and we’re really focused on involving local people, artists, and children.
“We were trying to come up with events that will involve as many people as possible - shop windows are very accessible, without having to go to a gallery or dedicated space - it is also covid safe.”
Find out more about the festival at: w ww. littleboroughartsfestival. co.uk Booking for events will go live here and also on: www.facebook.com/ littleboroughartsfestival