Chris Upton: A West Midlands’ Treasure

Our first Literary Bus meeting was at Blakesley Hall in 2010. This picture became synonymous with the project, with Gollum peering behind Chris in Blakesley’s beautiful gardens. © Anne-Marie Hayes

I first met Chris 10 years ago while working at Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. He was one of our resident historians and was known for leading his very popular and oversubscribed Ghost Walks around Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries. I remember how captivating those tours were – he not only had a way with words, he was a great raconteur.

The Literary Bus strikes again. Chris with ‘Barbara Cartland’ and dog! ©Anne-Marie Hayes

One story he told on the tour stayed with me. I won’t labour over the exact details, but I always meant to ask him more about it because it gave me goose pimples. I never got round to it. There was no excuse really as that tour was back in 2007 and I worked with Chris on numerous occasions after that. My point is, it’s easy to assume you always have time, and I think it’s the realisation that we’ve not only lost a wealth of knowledge but also a passionate advocate for West Midlands’ history, that really hits hard. On a very basic level, Chris was also a charming friend and colleague to so many, with a fine sense of humour, who always seemed to have a smile on his face. That is how I will remember him.

Chris, at the launch of the Coffin Works last October. He had been involved in the project for many years and helped me with much of my research. ©Anne-Marie Hayes

Chris’ Magical Literary Bus

I have many fond memories of Chris, the fondest of which involved working with him on the ‘Literary Bus’ on three separate occasions. The  bus travelled around Birmingham visiting the various sites connected to the city’s literary history and its characters, some of whom included the likes of Gollum at Sarehole Mill and Sherlock Holmes at Aston Cross.

This wasn’t work for Chris, it was a hobby and pure entertainment. ©Anne-Marie Hayes

If you’re scratching your head, the link to Sarehole Mill is because it is of course Tolkien’s childhood playground, and Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, once lived in Aston. Naturally there was a bit of poetic licence, and Chris narrated the tour with personality and punch. I also think he enjoyed, as well as embraced, all that regularly went wrong. So too, did the public.

One of our planning meetings at Blakesley Hall in 2011, which were always great fun! ©Samina Kosar.

This was Chris’ brain child and one of the things I admired most about him was his ‘can do’ attitude. The idea for the bus came out of a conversation my sister and I had with him at the reopening of Aston Hall in 2009. Six months later it became a reality and that was down to Chris. He had a way of making things happen, but he also inspired confidence in such a way that meant that you always wanted to be associated with him and what he did, because you just knew it would be quality. The Literary Bus was no different – a sell-out on all three occasions.

One of my favourite memories is Chris singing ‘I Can’t Find Brummagem’ just before Ozzy Osborne boarded the bus ‘bouncing’ along to Black Sabath’s ‘Paranoid’. This really was weird and wonderful at the same time, and I loved Chris’ method of promoting it: “If you’re intrigued by the idea, or interested in seeing how it can go disastrously wrong, you might care to book a ticket.”

Chris at Aston Hall in 2011 with ‘Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’ and ‘Dr Johnson.’ ©Anne-Marie Hayes

A legend who will live on

I don’t think I’ve ever known someone so generous with sharing their knowledge. I remember when I had to do my first television interview in 2010 about the Jewellery Quarter canal network. I could have consulted a book, and I did, but I also went to Chris. He responded straight away, sharing all he could. He always made time, was always approachable, and for me, fulfilled the one true quality of any brilliant teacher: he was always genuinely proud of his students’ successes. I was never officially taught by Chris, but he did teach me a lot, and in particular, that a wealth of knowledge doesn’t give you licence to be arrogant and judgemental, it gives you the duty to inspire and disseminate. He never said that, but he didn’t have to – I loved his unstuffy approach and he proved that you could still play with ‘the big boys’ and be firmly grounded.  That is how the Chris I knew, operated, and that is why the word ‘legend’ has repeatedly been used to describe him and his achievements.

Chris with fellow Literary Bus characters at Blakesley Hall in 2011.

Looking back at one of the last emails he sent to me in January this year, his fighting spirit and passion for what he did was summed up. He said not to put him in cotton wool as he’d soon say if he couldn’t cope. I’d proposed the idea of doing another Literary Bus and he was up for it. The three buses we did were like three good series of a hit show – a local one at least – and without its main star, it just wouldn’t be the same. But, what will live on is Chris’ legacy and the best way we can honour his memory is by keeping local history alive. He has inspired a generation, or two, of students, and historians alike and his name will forever be synonymous with West Midlands history.

Our thoughts are with Fiona and family.

Sarah Hayes