District Governor 2024-25

I was born in Burton on Trent more years ago than I care to remember!  

Growing up in Swadlincote, I was part of a close-knit family, with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all living within a couple of hundred yards from each other, sharing family holidays.

From an early age, I have enjoyed music and the theatre; this love remains today, with visits whenever possible to both local theatre groups and to the West End in London.  I have been a member of a well-known panto company in Burton for the last 25 years. Favourite roles are panto dame and ‘baddie’, all with BASE at The Brewhouse. For the 40th year of the society I was able to re-create the role of one of the Ugly Sisters in their milestone production of Cinderella. And to celebrate 50 years of the society played Widow Twankey in Aladdin.

I have performed with groups since 1972 and been fortunate to take part in semi-pro shows with Roy Hudd in 1998 and Don MacLean in 1999.

Now an accomplished After Dinner speaker, which started in 2006, I was asked to speak for a local WI and this has now snowballed. The rest is history and I now offer several talks; “My Olympic Dream”; “Music Hall to Variety Theatre; “Auntie the Wars Over”, “Orange and Blue Army” and most recently, “I am what I am”, which is proving popular, with a unique twist to the presentation!!

The last few years have taken me to many parts of the UK including Devon, Lincolnshire, Essex, Cheshire, Cambridgeshire, Isle of Man, plus many local venues. 

2012 was an especially exciting year for me when I was part of the cast for the opening ceremony of “London 2012” Olympic Games and at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham resulted in being a driver for Team Scotland. 

I have been involved in charity work since the age of 10 with what was then the “Leonard Cheshire Homes” 

This led me to becoming a Rotarian. I had the honour of being President of the Rotary Club of Ashby de la Zouch Castle in Centennial Year of Rotary in 2004-2005. Having completed 3 years as an Assistant Governor 2006-2009, I joined the District Conference Committee as Stage Manager and remain in this position to date, having also been Conference Manager in Southport for October 2011. My greatest achievement in Rotary was when my own club awarded me a “Paul Harris Fellow” which is the highest award for achievement within Rotary.

Eight years ago I retired from full time tedium, taking up a study course in Funeral Celebrancy, which has interested me for some time.  Now a fully qualified member of the Institute of Civil Funerals and Association of Independent Celebrants  my time is spent preparing bespoke ceremonies for my clients and in 2020 I qualified to lead both Wedding Ceremonies and Naming Ceremonies which resulted in me becoming an event & concert compere.

Tel: (01283) 221214

Mobile: (07745) 448836

E-Mail: hello@chrisknightceremonies.co.uk 

Read the article in Ashby Nub News