Chris Sier only lived 58 years, he would have been 59 in a few days. But he had a number of lives in that short time being a businessman, an academic , living for coral in the Maldives and for his family in South London (most importantly). He was a mountaineer, a windsurfer, a diver and he cycled 4,000 miles of the American West Coast. He had many lives some of which we had not time to explore.

I knew him as a Founder with me of AgeWage and a friend till his death in November. How I knew him, I found out at a fine funeral and celebration of his life in New Eltham and later in Blackheath. Many joined via the weblink, some celebrated it on social media

There are people, I am reminded our Pension Minister is one, who do not temper their temper when rouse and Chris one. The quote that heads this tribute was a public statement made by Chris to a friend at a conference, there were great stories from a police superintendent about Chris the “bobby” from Tim Brown who has taken on ClearGlass and from beard-busy academic Iain Clacher.

There was much about Estonia which came to us through his wife Katrin. We had its music and photographs of Chris’ family life, his children were articulate and full of Chris’ lively vigour. Chris carried his wife over the threshold of his first house with her eight months pregnant with his first Oliver. Oliver read a He is Gone by David Harkin.

Chris gave that message to his staff at ClearGlass as his last and the many of his friends who came to hear “he is gone”, will wake this following morning with happy memories as the sadness of the loss of the man,

I cemented many friendships, made some new ones and would now – with my friend Anna Tilba, who accompanied me for the day, would like to say thank you to Katrine and the Sier family. We have been Siered again!

Leaving for Newcastle and for Eton!