Christian Henry Grinling

Messages of condolence

1. Rest in peace Grandpa Woof Woof. You will be greatly missed by all of us, but I know you’ll continue to be alive in our hearts, minds and through your stories and very funny jokes. With love Lena

2. I love and miss you so much. You are the best grandpa I could have ever wished for, and I am thinking of you always. You are so funny and could make anyone laugh! (Including me) You and granny are my role models, and knowing how much you love her makes me so happy. I am so grateful that I got to spend these 19 years with you. I’m lucky enough to say that my kindness, determination, love, intelligence, and strength comes from you. Without you I would not be the woman I am today so, thank you for being the greatest grandpa woof woof in the world. ❤️

3. Far, you and Rowena were like my parents. You showed us all what true love can be, through thick and thin, and I am fortunate that Harry had such a strong,kind role model in you. I can imagine you waving goodbye your large white hanky every time we had to leave you, your funny jokes and above all the help and support that you gave Harry and myself in helping us run Support Partners. Your advice was always invaluable and we could not have done it without you. You will be surrounded by your beloved dogs and pigs, sailing away and in our hearts forever present. Lots of love and thank you for being you. xxxx

4. love from wigs

5. Sending so much love to all of Christian’s family, what an amazing man you had for a father, what a absolute pleasure it was to look after him, lots of love Kayleigh

6. My memories of Grandpa are always going to be the daily trips to the morning food market in Spain, returning home with kilos of “gambons” and enough meat to keep us busy for the rest of the afternoon with all his gadgetry. Grandpa will always be an inspiration for me, everything from keeping up with the newest tech and gadgets into his later years, through to his laidback and fun grandfather role in our huge family. He will forever be sitting at the head of a huge table holding an elaborate feast surrounded by the Spanish countryside and our cousins, uncles and aunties in my heart.

7. Grandpa, your love and warmth will be tremendously missed. You always knew how to crack a joke in every circumstance, and they never failed to make me laugh. I will always remember your big warm hugs when coming to visit you, the handkerchief wave and fake crying as we left, and of course, your delicious food. Both you and Granny have got to win the award for feeding your grandchildren. There was never an occasion where there weren’t at least 4 different ice creams on offer for pudding, as well as probably another 3 puddings to choose from (plus our favourite Guylian chocolates, which I used to steal from you). Not only this, but I loved learning all the different ways you would smoke all your delicious meats from the amazing local farm shops you and Granny had scouted out, and I will always remember you teaching me how to eat langoustines. Food, gadgets and love will always be the first 3 things that come to mind when I think of you, Grandpa. More recently, I remember being extremely impressed by your keg machine and array of different beers you had delivered, that you would pour yourself a pint with in the AM just as I would come down for breakfast (yes, teenager breakfast time, but still)! Sending you lots and lots of love – thank you for always being the best grandpa who will always fill our bellies and hearts. xxx

8. Some of my happiest memories of Daddy are of our summer holidays on our boat, CEZU: not a word to be spoken during the shipping forecast every evening. The nerve-wracking challenge of taking the mast down onto the boat so we could pass under low bridges as we travelled through the canal network from Amsterdam towards Germany, and the unforgettable moment off Belle-Île in France, when he yelled at Mummy to get a tight hold of my legs through the front hatch while I was on deck clinging on to the rapidly unfolding sails in an unexpected storm.

   He had a dry sense of humour and a tongue-in-cheek reply to every family occasion. We all enjoyed his humour and fondly remember him wearing a swimming mask and snorkel while eating dinner around the swimming pool in Spain.

   He loved listening to Lily the Pink and Terry Wogan singing The Floral Dance on the radio on the way to school. There was the unforgettable look of anguish on his face when, driving home from school on a hot summer afternoon, my pony (I think it was Silly Billy) took a bite out of the straw boater on my head.

   I will always remember how much he enjoyed our weddings and parties, dancing with Mummy in the garden marquee to ceilidhs and disco tunes, and his brave attempt to limbo under a ridiculously low limbo pole in the barn at my 21st.

   He was also wonderful with our children, especially when showing them how to cook meat with real precision on the barbecue and smoker. Following his example, they all know how to eat mussels and langoustine without making a mess of the remaining shells!

   Above all, I will remember the love he had for Mummy and how he and Jaspar managed to keep her with them for as long as they could. Their long and happy marriage was full of devotion, companionship and shared joy.

   He was dearly loved, and we will all miss him.

9. My deepest condolences to Harry, Christine, Helena, Christian, Tilly, and the entire Grinling clan. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Christian. While I didn’t have the privilege of knowing him personally, I know the people he raised and admired, and that tells me a great deal about who he was. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.