Sophie Christopher

The kindest, funniest and most fabulous person in any room.

your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
-Charles Bukowski, ‘The Laughing Heart’

2nd July 2019

Order of Service
Tributes

News

Production of The Incident Room at Bromley Little Theatre - Charity Night on Thursday 9th November 2023 in aid of Thrombosis UK

Join us for an unforgettable night of theatre at the Bromley Little Theatre with The Incident Room charity production on Thursday November 9th at 7:45 PM. Located in the heart of Bromley, the theatre is situated on North Street, making it easily accessible for everyone.This charity production is a must-see for anyone who loves theatre and wants to support a good cause. The Incident Room is a gripping play that tells the story of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, and the impact it had on the police officers who worked on the case. With a talented cast and crew, this production promises to be a moving and powerful experience.
Don't miss your chance to see this incredible show and support a worthy cause. Book your tickets now! Your seat numbers will be allocated to you upon arrival on the night.
Supporting the event will be a raffle in aid of Thrombosis UK so don't forget your cash!Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-incident-room-charity-production-at-bromley-little-theatre-tickets-639265679857?aff=ebdssbeac
https://bromleylittletheatre.org/

Shoreham 10K run - Sunday 3rd September 2023 in aid of Thrombosis UK

On the morning of Sunday 3rd September, Sophie's family are hoping to repeat the success of last year's charity run in memory of our wonderful girl. We are offering 10 lucky runners a free space each to participate in the event (free entry, raising money for TUK). It’s quite a challenging 10K run so training is not an option! For an easier life(!), there is the opportunity to help out on the course which will involve urging on the participants at designated points around the course, signing people in at the start or manning the cake stall (first dibs on the scrumptious home made cakes!)Any help you can provide in spreading the word or supporting on the day would be so much appreciated - it's a great day out! A limited number of spaces also exist for Cannicross. Please contact Bren on 07708 066272 if you are interested in taking up the free entry (spaces going fast!) or volunteering as a marshal for the morning or email: [email protected]Click here to enter

Beyond the Streets launches online 'Whitechapel Women' Tour

Beyond The Streets, a charity that works with women involved in the UK sex industry to ensure they are safe from coercion, violence and abuse, was one of two initial charities the Christopher family chose to support in Sophie's memory. The work this organization does reflects so many issues that were important to Sophie.Over the past few years Beyond The Streets have been working hard on a project supported by fundraising in Sophie's memory. The family are pleased to announced that the charity are launching an online version of their East End tour about the five victims of the person widely known as 'Jack the Ripper' - Catherine Eddowes, Mary Kelly, Polly Nichols, Anna Chapman and Elizabeth Stride. The BBC is going to be covering the launch of this project at 6.30pm on BBC London News on Friday 2nd December 2022. Do catch the broadcast if you can and please share far and wide!
https://www.whitechapelwomen.com

Runners Raise Over £5000 For Thrombosis UK

On Sunday 4th September, 109 runners were met with near perfect weather for the 10K Shoreham Woods run. This public event was magnificently well organised by PB events who kindly offered Team Sophie ten free spaces worth £200.Martin Chmielecki, James Mundy, Jess Johnson, Charlotte Richardson, Maddie I'anson, Anna Ridley, Aaron Tipping, Mark Primrose, Megan Magold, Henry Thompson and Jack Reed took up the challenge not only to run this very challenging course but to set up Just Giving pages and raise funds for Thrombosis UK in Sophie's name. Many thanks to the bakers who donated delicious delicacies for the cake stall, helping to bring the total sum raised to £5,081!Grateful thanks to the organisers, runners and marshals who made this possible. Sophie's mum Brenda was there to support and hand out thrombosis awareness leaflets to the exhausted runners on the finishing line and Sophie's sister Kate and friends of the family were among the marshals urging on the runners and without whose support the event would not have been possible.Brenda is in talks with Thrombosis UK on how the funds can best be spent in raising much-needed awareness amongst the medical community and the general public.

Shoreham Woods 10K Trail RuN

Hard on the heels of Sarah Tebb's successful Half Marathon run in London on April 2021 and Kate Christopher and Lily Charnock's Half Marathon run in Hertfordshire in November 2021 raising funds for Thrombosis UK (massive effort girls, well done!), we have some exciting news!On Sunday 4th September, Team Sophie will be doing a 10K trail run in Shoreham Woods, Kent. The run is organised by PB Race Events and they have generously offered us ten free spaces so further funds for TUK can be raised! The team consists of 10 dear friends of Sophie who continue to remember her fondly and wish to continue to raise awareness of DVT/PE in her name. The event is open to the public and further details can be found at www.pbraceevents.co.uk.At the end of the race there will be a table which will be groaning with delicious handmade cakes donated by friends, family and neighbours of the Christopher family. Don't forget to bring your spare cash as you will not want to miss out on these delicious delights!Marshals will be needed on the day and you can register for this at [email protected]

The Great Edgebury Sunflower Give Away 2020

Having successfully raised sunflowers from seed this spring, Sophie's mother Bren decided to join forces with a neighbour who shared her idea to offer the majority of them free to passers by. Each sunflower pot sported a label directing recipients to Sophie's website and a couple of donations were received for Thrombosis UK. Consequently Bren is planning an even bigger Sunflower Give Away in 2021, mainly to raise awareness and keep our gal's memory alive! Anyone care to join in next year? Don't worry folks, Bren will remind you!

First Recipient of The Sophie Christopher Volunteer Award Announced

Transworld has announced that Zara Sekhavati, travel editor at Rough Guides, Berlitz Guides and Insight Guides is the first recipient of The Sophie Christopher Volunteer Award.Earlier this year, Transworld announced that it was setting up the award, a sponsored volunteering scheme in honour of Sophie. She made it her mission to improve the lives of others and it was with Sophie's belief in the power of literacy and literature to change lives in mind, along with her love of travel, that Penguin Random House decided to partner with the award-winning responsible volunteering organisation people and places to sponsor a two-week programme – open to anyone working in publishing and bookselling – in support of the work of the Treak Community Centre close to Siem Reap in Cambodia.The Centre is committed to creating opportunity, not dependency, and provides free, non-formal education and training that supplements and complements the Cambodian state system, offering a nursery, school, library, computer classes and a wide range of skills training. The aim is to help the local people learn new skills and increase their confidence so that they are better equipped to take control of their futures. Penguin Random House wants to build and develop a sustainable relationship with the community and plans to sponsor an annual placement to offer consistency and continuity.The entries were assessed by a team from Penguin Random House, Sophie’s family and friends, leaders from the Treak Community Centre and author and broadcaster Simon Mayo who worked closely with Sophie.The leaders from the Treak Community Centre said ‘Zara stood out from our first reading of her application form. Her passion for women's rights resonates with us here in Cambodia, as do her interests in education and children, her CELTA qualification, her technical knowledge of teaching English as a foreign language and her appreciation that learning is much more effective if it is enjoyable. All of these indicate that Zara will be able to help, not only the children who attend Treak Community Centre, but that she will also be able to work with our Cambodian teachers to develop their skills and thus leave something tangible behind after she leaves.’

‘I'm elated to have been selected for the first Sophie Christopher Volunteer Award. Thank you again to everyone involved and to Sophie's family and friends. I'm delighted to be part of such an important cause in honour of such an incredible woman.’
Zara Sekhavati

• Read More

Sophie's Quiz Night 2019

Following Sophie’s passing, her family and friends decided to organise a Quiz Night on Friday 17th January at her old school, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School, Sidcup, Kent, to raise funds for both Thrombosis UK, who promote all aspects of thrombosis care and research in the UK, together with a more local cause much in keeping with Sophie’s love of reading, The Book Buzz Literary Festival. The Quiz Night was a sell-out event, the evening raising a staggering total of £4,150. These funds will be split to support Thrombosis UK and the book festival. It is hoped money raised will enable an event to be held in Bexley’s libraries and other venues all around the borough, to honour Sophie’s memory.

• Read More

Thrombosis

Sophie died suddenly on 3rd June 2019. Visiting her family for the day, at 6 o'clock she was relaxing next to her mum on the sofa waiting for her sister to serve up her favourite dinner. By 6.30pm she had collapsed and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. By 8pm that same evening she had passed away. A brain aneurysm was suspected, but this opinion was wrong. The post mortem revealed Sophie had, in fact, died of catastrophic bilateral pulmonary emboli caused by a DVT.Sophie had been suffering from a high fever. She saw a paramedic on Saturday 1st June whilst working away and had been told she probably had a virus and to go home and rest. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism - breathlessness, chest pain, high fever - are often overlooked or diagnosed as other, less serious, problems such as a chest infection or viral illness, which is why it is vital to raise awareness.Sophie was a healthy and fit young woman. DVT doesn't just happen to people on long flights or to the elderly. It can sometimes happen to women on the contraceptive pill or other hormone treatment; in pregnancy and to mothers in the few weeks following birth and to gamers who have been playing for hours online. Sometimes it can happen if you have an undiagnosed blood condition. This is why it is so important to recognise the signs of DVT/PE/VTE. Sophie's family asks you to please take just 37 SECONDS* to read the short paragraphs at the following link so that you are aware of the symptoms. You could save your own or someone else's life.*Every 37 seconds someone in the Western World dies from a Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) (information courtesy of Thrombosis UK)

About

Sophie was a shining comet of a woman who sparked with wit, grit and pure unadulterated charm. She could make anything look easy, from hosting an ambitious multi-course dinner party to finding a poem to suit any and every occasion – or pulling off a brave combination of ruffles and studs all at once.Sophie excelled at most things she tried, and her brain fizzed constantly with new ideas – most of which were concerned with improving the state of the world. After graduating from Exeter University in 2012, she started a successful career in publishing with positions at Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House. Earlier in 2019 she co-founded The FLIP (Female Leadership in Publishing) with two of her colleagues at Transworld, which platforms under-represented voices within the industry in a frank and empowering way. To honour her memory, her family and her boyfriend Tim chose to work with two UK-based charities – Beyond the Streets and Real Action – that embody Sophie’s belief in the power of literature to effect positive change. There are already several books in the works that will be dedicated to her.Sophie had an uncanny knack for connecting with people, and her rare blend of cleverness and kindness resulted in a shining enthusiasm for those around her. She could work a room like no one else, and was a constant source of support and encouragement for anyone lucky enough to find themselves bathed in her glow. She did not believe in the concept of a ‘guilty pleasure’ either in art or in life, instead squeezing all the joy out of the day wherever she found it. A Chislehurst-girl-turned-Hampstead-woman, Sophie was an effervescent presence anywhere, at any time – whether that was snuggled on the sofa with Scout, or out having adventures all across the globe.Sophie passed away after suffering a Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) on the evening of 3rd June 2019 at the age of 28. The world has lost someone truly special, and she is already very deeply missed by everyone with the good fortune to have known her. Her loved-ones will remember Sophie always – and will try for the rest of our lives to be a little bit more like her, whenever we can.

Memories of Sophie

Sophie was loved by so many that it’s proving difficult to keep track of all the wonderful stories people have about her.Sophie’s family would love you to share your memories, photos, videos, or any books that Sophie suggested you read.

• Add your Memories

Charity

Should you wish to make a donation in memory of Sophie please do so to our chosen charitable organisation, Thrombosis UK.
Sophie died suddenly and unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism caused by a DVT and Thrombosis UK are doing valuable work to raise awareness of one of the most common but little publicised causes of death in the UK.You can contribute via the button below:

• Donate

Thrombosis UK endeavours to reflect all aspects of thrombosis care and research in the UK and was founded because of the lack of awareness amongst the general public, politicians and health professionals, of the dangers of thrombosis. Indeed, thrombosis is arguably the largest cause of death in the UK, and probably in the developed world. The aim of the charity is to raise awareness and educate everyone about thrombosis and its prevention, as well as fund relevant research aimed at filling the gaps that exist in current medical knowledge. It is estimated that around 25,000 people die every year, mostly unnecessarily, as a result of thrombosis associated with hospital admissions alone (the highest risk factor for developing DVT/PE).

Previously almost £10,000 was raised for two charities that reflect Sophie’s passions.Beyond the Streets is a UK charity working to end sexual exploitation by working directly with women. They offer safe spaces and the opportunity to talk. Sophie passionately believed in the work of Beyond the Streets. She recently worked with them on a number of projects. beyondthestreets.org.ukReal Action is a specialist education charity. They offer fast-acting, effective courses of basic education, especially in literacy for children and adults. Real Action have transformed the prospects for people living in underprivileged communities. Their work reflects Sophie’s belief in the power of literacy and literature to change lives. realaction.org.uk

Books

Books recommendations given, inspired and in memory of SophieContribute a recommendation

Poetry & Quotes

Poignant, inspiring and beautiful poetry and quotes inspired by Sophie, chosen by friends and family.

• If - Rudyard Kipling
• The Orange - Wendy Cope
• The Darkling Thrush - Thomas Hardy
• Filling Your Gaps - Pandora Sykes
• Lullaby - Rosemary Norman
• For Grief by John O'Donohue

"Love affairs to be had, fjords to be swum in, books to be written. Gilbert’s appetite for life in the wake of her darkest hour really is a thing to behold. She tells me that the author Ann Patchett, a friend, gave her some sage advice. “She said, ‘Liz, Rayya belongs to the eternal now. And some day soon so will you. And that’s true of all of us. You have an infinite amount of time to belong to the eternal with her. But you only have this tiny bit of time to have this experience as a human being on Earth. Don’t lose it by trying to merge with her now. Merge with this, what’s here, the people who are here, what’s in front of you. The weird, strange, heartbreaking thing of being mortal. Do that.“The good news is that soon we’ll all be dead,” Gilbert laughs cheerily. “And we will all meet up later at some weird soul conference and look back on this and say, ‘Isn’t it hilarious, what we did? Wasn’t that f..king hilarious?’ But for now, it’s time to just do it. And do it fully. This moment of being human is not to be wasted.”
-An extract of an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) in the Australian

If—
by Rudyard KiplingIf you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

The Orange
by Wendy CopeAt lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.

The Darkling Thrush
** by Thomas Hardy**I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.The land's sharp features seemed to be
The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware

**Filling Your Gaps **
by Pandora SykesI’m freezing out here
Here - take my coat
It’s cold in the water
Come - hop in my boat.My phone’s out of battery
It’s okay - borrow mine.
My babysitter just cancelled
I’m there - I’ve got time.He’s left me again
I’ve got you - just breathe.
I can’t get through the day
You can - I won’t leave.I can’t work today
I’ll pick up your slack.
What is kindness to you?
To give, what you lack

For Grief by John O'DonohueWhen you lose someone you love,
Your life becomes strange,
The ground beneath you gets fragile,
Your thoughts make your eyes unsure;
And some dead echo drags your voice down
Where words have no confidence.
Your heart has grown heavy with loss;
And though this loss has wounded others too,
No one knows what has been taken from you
When the silence of absence deepens.
Flickers of guilt kindle regret
For all that was left unsaid or undone.There are days when you wake up happy;
Again inside the fullness of life,
Until the moment breaks
And you are thrown back
Onto the black tide of loss.Days when you have your heart back,
You are able to function well
Until in the middle of work or encounter,
Suddenly with no warning,
You are ambushed by grief.It becomes hard to trust yourself.
All you can depend on now is that
Sorrow will remain faithful to itself.
More than you, it knows its way
And will find the right time
To pull and pull the rope of grief
Until that coiled hill of tears
Has reduced to its last drop.Gradually, you will learn acquaintance
With the invisible form of your departed;
And, when the work of grief is done,
The wound of loss will heal
And you will have learned
To wean your eyes
From that gap in the air
And be able to enter the hearth
In your soul where your loved one
Has awaited your return
All the time.

Lullaby
by Rosemary NormanGo to sleep, Mum,
I won’t stop breathing
Suddenly, in the night.Go to sleep, I won’t
Climb out of my cot and
Tumble downstairs.Mum, I won’t swallow
The pills the doctor gave you or
Put hairpins in electric
Sockets, just go to sleepI won’t cry
When you take me to school and leave me:
I’ll be happy with other children
My own age.Sleep, Mum, sleep
I won’t
Fall in the pond, play with matches,
Run under a lorry or even consider
Sweets from strangers.No, I won’t
Give you a lot of lip,
Not like some.I won’t sniff glue,
Fail all my exams,
Get myself pregnant.I’ll work hard and get a steady/
Really worthwhile job.
I promise, go to sleep.
I’ll never forget
To droop in/phone/write
And if
I need any milk, I’ll yell.

The Sophie Christopher Volunteer Award

Sophie’s career in publishing was hugely important to her and in her five years with Transworld, one of the Penguin Random House companies, she rose rapidly from Press Officer to Senior Publicity Manager.In honour of her memory, Transworld is setting up The Sophie Christopher Volunteer Award, a sponsored volunteering scheme open to anyone working in publishing and bookselling.In addition to her outstanding work as a publicist, Sophie made it her mission to improve the lives of others, from co-founding The FLIP, an interview series showcasing exceptional women working in the publishing industry, through to her work with Beyond the Streets, a UK charity working to end sexual exploitation. Sophie’s passions reflected her belief in the power of literacy and literature to change lives.It is with these interests in mind, along with her love of travel, that Penguin Random House has decided to partner with the award-winning responsible volunteering organisation, people and places to sponsor a two-week programme in autumn 2020 to support the work of the Treak Community Centre, close to Siem Reap in Cambodia.The Centre is committed to creating opportunity, not dependency, and provides free, non-formal education and training that supplements and complements the Cambodian state system, offering a nursery, school, library, computer classes and a wide range of skills training. The aim is to help the local people learn new skills and increase their confidence so that they are better equipped to take control of their own futures.Penguin Random House wants to build and develop a sustainable relationship with the community and plans to sponsor an annual placement to offer consistency and continuity.Transworld’s Managing Director, Larry Finlay said ‘Sophie was an unstoppable force of positivity and enthusiasm. She is so hugely missed by all who knew her. This Award is a fitting tribute to an extraordinary person and will be just one of the many ways of keeping her cherished memory alive.’Further details of the programme, how to apply and the selection process can be found by clicking the button below.

• More Information & Application Form