FORMER Trowbridge resident and loving family man Christopher Bonnick died at Queen’s Medical Centre on Sunday (March 22) at the age of 55, following a fire at his home in Nottingham.
Mr Bonnick was raised in the Studley Rise area of Trowbridge by his loving mother along with his eight siblings and attended Nelson Haden School in Frome Road, which is now known as Clarendon Academy, before moving to Nottingham in his early 20s.
One of his first jobs was as a bus driver in London, before he moved to Nottingham and became a lorry driver. His love of driving resulted in him becoming self-employed for a period of time as a minibus driver, taking people to the airport and back.
He also spent some time as a driving instructor and while doing that he started to get into property development. Mr Bonnick purchased a building in Nottingham which he then turned into flats for students, before later refurbishing it for professionals.
Mr Bonnick, who was letting out several properties at the time of his death, was a big family man and had four children, including three daughters and a son, as well as four grandchildren.
According to his family, everything he did was for his children and their future. He was considered a huge role model by all of his children and always gave them something to look up to.
His family said he was a “genuine, loving person”, who was “dedicated to providing financial stability for his children”. He was also a very spiritual person and loved God.
A keen traveller, Mr Bonnick’s heart was always in Africa and had only recently returned from a six-month trip to the county, where he had helped people to build homes and encouraged them to follow their talents.
Mr Bonnick’s hobbies included football and amateur boxing, which he took from his early 20s. As a result of his boxing, he was very disciplined in everything he did and he was incredibly fit for his age.
His daughter remembers that when she was little he would leave the family home at around 5am-6am and go for a run and return two hours later.
She added: “He was the heart and soul of our family and was the softest and most gentle person. He loved everyone and there was no one that he wouldn’t get along with.”
The funeral arrangements are yet to be confirmed, however, the family have launched a fundraising campaign to give Mr Bonnick the 'best send off ever'. To contribute go to : http://de.gofund.me/pse4sg
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here