Councillor Chris Hilliard, who passed away suddenly on 16 June, was remembered with much love, affection and admiration in a two-part celebration of their life on 15 July.
At Macclesfield Crematorium, family members, close friends plus representatives of Cheshire East Council, Wilmslow Town Council and CycleWilmlsow, amongst others, attended the more traditional service. The celebrant, Liz Thompson and family members gave a warm tribute and a fitting poem, The Fallen Limb, was recited.
The party then moved on to St Bartholomew's Parish Church in Wilmslow where the Rev. Eddie Roberts acted as a master of ceremonies as people came together at what was fittingly called acelebration of their life in full technicolour.
This largely secular event was no regular funeral service. As Rev Roberts noted, it was in all probability the first time in the church's 800 years that Barbie Girl by Aqua had received an airing(and quite possibly the last). The congregation learned of Chris growing up living with Asperger's and the challenges that it brought them. They became one of the very first pupils with a confirmed diagnosis on the autistic spectrum to be educated at Wilmslow High School and a chuckle was raised when we learned of some of their early examples of activism there.
What became abundantly clear was how many lives in diverse areas had been touched by Chris for the better. Their own brush with the law at a demo in London, and long but successful fight to prove their innocence, which their mother Jennifer spoke about (cue I Fought the Law by The Dead Kennedy's being played) had set them on a path to obtaining a law degree. It had also led Chris to work with several bodies in the voluntary sector, including the Access to Justice Knowledge Hub, the National Appropriate Adult Network and KeyRing. Representatives of all three were present to pay fulsome tribute.
With the Cheshire East Mayor Councillor David Edwardes attendance, Councillor Michael Gorman, Deputy Leader of the Council, gave a heartfelt address in which he emphasised Chris's positive impact on local politics and his desire to improve active travel in the borough as the Cycling and Walking Champion (Chris, in their spare time was also a committee member of CycleWilmslow). To that end, Chris's beloved cargo bike and distinctive cycle helmet took centre stage in the church, infront of the altar.
It was an afternoon that saw tears mixed with laughter as we reflected on an all-too-short life very well lived. Chris's mother summed it up so well "Chris contributed in so many ways to making the world a better place and I take comfort in the impact they had in their relatively short life."
Afterwards, further happy memories were shared at a wake held in the Parish Hall. The message people took away was to be positive, be imaginative and, above all else, be authentic, just like Chris.
Thanks to everyone who helped to organise such a fitting farewell.
Guest post by Rob Sawyer.
