Tribute to 'special' Chippenham Town fan who died of cancer

Rob Brown lived in Chippenham for 22 years before he died in November 2022, aged 62, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver cancer.

Now his wife Christine, 69, is walking from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats virtually, using her FitBit to record her steps, as a tribute to his life.

Rob came to Chippenham in 2000 and worked for Bupa before retiring and becoming a director in Christine’s consultancy company.

The pair got together in 2010, after knowing each other for some time, and married four years later at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Rob Brown (Image: Christine Brown)

Rob was a passionate Chippenham Town supporter, both he and Christine held hospitality season tickets, and his memorial and wake were held at the club.

His other passions included aeroplanes, stamps and gardening.

Rob was well known in the town and Christine says he is dearly missed.

She said: “Rob was the most wonderful man and always liked helping people, so this is a tribute to what he did for people to recognise how incredible he was.

“He was so thoughtful and very kind. He had a capacity for embracing people and always having time for them, which is a fantastic quality to have.

“People were devastated when he died because he gave them confidence, he was very special.”

Rob and Christine's wedding day (Image: Christine Brown)

Rob’s empathy shone through in 2019 when Christine, who also has an incurable but non-life threatening form of cancer, developed a Cerebrospinal Fluid leak which left her bedridden and struggling to walk.

It was Rob’s encouragement and care that helped her get back on her feet and Christine was finally returning to normal when, tragically, he was urgently admitted to hospital.

He died four days later after suffering three haemorrhages.

Rob’s determination to get Christine walking, which began with her walking cats up the street, inspired her to take on the challenge for Cancer Research UK in his memory.

Christine has so far raised £6,000 through her fundraising page but is hoping to reach the £10,000 mark.

Rob and Olly Brown (Image: Christine Brown)

After starting the walk on January 11, with the aim of completing it by November, Christine has flown through at 160 miles a month and will complete the challenge in person at John O’ Groats on July 24.

While the challenge is a tribute to Rob, Christine is also doing it in memory of her first husband, Bob Bullock, who died of lung cancer in 2007.