Tributes paid to record collector

MUSIC enthusiasts have paid tribute to a prolific local record collector and former radio personality.

Chris Savory, who died of cancer on Tuesday after a short illness, was a popular and well-regarded figure in local music.

The 62-year-old, from Clayton, was a leading light in the local music scene and ran the UK's longest-running record fair.

The monthly event launched at Hanley YMCA in 1977 and still runs at Cobridge community centre.

Grandfather-of-four Mr Savory presented popular radio show The Record Collectors on BBC Shropshire for 21 years and, more recently, featured as a record valuation expert on BBC Radio Stoke.

And wife Helen said he would be sorely missed by the music lovers of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

"Chris was a vibrant personality in the local music industry, all through his career. He was a quiet man at home but very popular," the 62-year-old said.

"He was so well known because of the record collectors' fair and I know that he will be sadly missed by everybody connected to it."

Robert Barrs, from Hill Street, Stoke, runs the Rubber Soul record store in Hanley, having learned his trade from Mr Savory.

The 34-year-old, who has five children, said: "He will be missed, ever since I can really remember he has been the main player in the local record trade. He knew an awful lot about music and records.

"I was a regular customer at his YMCA fair as a teenager and I eventually started trading there with my own stall.

"In many respects I served my apprenticeship with Chris before moving on to my own shop. You can learn a lot from the people like Chris in this world."

Mr Barrs said the regional music trade would not be the same without his friend.

He added: "The local record industry will miss him because there aren't many independent sellers like Chris around. He did it the old fashioned way, building up a relationship with customers. He was a very decent man."

Mr Savory was born and raised on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and moved to Newcastle to work as a deputy headteacher at St Margaret's Junior School in Wolstanton. The first record fair, originally intended as a one-off, was held two years later.

He went on to contribute to a number of magazines, including Record Collector.

In the 1980s he worked as a DJ on soul music nights at The Bear Hotel, Newcastle.

Dave Hawkins, from Defoe Drive, Weston Coyney, organised record fairs with Mr Savory as part of the North Staffs Collectors' group.

The 42-year-old said: "Chris was always upbeat and positive and he was thrilled and passionate to be involved with music.

"Soul music is definitely where his heart was, but he liked all music and he liked to listen to classical musical while he worked.

"He will most certainly be missed. A lot of people have contacted me from all over the country who have met him on his travels – people from Yorkshire, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, everywhere really."

Mr Savory died at home with his family around him. The funeral, which is open to all who knew him, will take place at St Giles Parish Church, Newcastle, at 1pm on September 14.