Obituary: Christie Pemberton (1993-2020), SSEES Alumnus

The School is extremely saddened to hear of the passing of SSEES graduate Christie Pemberton (Politics and East European Studies, 2014).

Christie Pemberton died of unknown causes at his family’s home in Jamaica on 19 March 2020. Survived by his parents Melody and Nigel, Christie was tragically just 27 years old when he died.

Born in August 1992, Christie spent the early years of his life in Jamaica, where he attended primary school and learned to speak patois fluently. The bonds of friendship Christie established during this time were deep and lasting, and he cherished nothing more than spending time on the island with his friends, family and goddaughters.

 Christie went on to study at the Charterhouse and then University College London (UCL), graduating with a first in politics in 2015. His dissertation was highly commended and its quality was all the more remarkable in light of the terrible back pain Christie endured during his final year at UCL, following an accident earlier that year – indeed, Melody remembers him typing away doggedly while lying in bed convalescing. His perseverance and focus in the face of adversity was recognised and admired by friends and academic tutors alike.

 In spite of the personal challenges he faced as a result of his back injury, fellow students from UCL remember Christie as an affable and fun-loving young man with a keen sense of humour, who never failed to furnish his friends with laughter, care and support. I can remember him taking the time to explain tricky theories and concepts to friends in an interesting way ahead of exams, and cracking jokes to help calm nerves. His lecturers remember him as a diligent, outgoing and charming undergraduate, who would often wait around after lectures for the opportunity to ask detailed questions about their subject areas, or invite them to discuss certain topics over a cup of coffee.

 In 2017, Christie continued his studies, enrolling on a Master’s course at Imperial Business School. He hoped to use the skills and knowledge he acquired at Imperial to establish a business in Jamaica. Although he had yet to settle on a specific venture and was still exploring his options, I got the strong impression that he was determined to use his studies to give back to and create opportunities in the country he was so fond of.

Christie was passionate about sport and could alternately be found on the tennis court, the golf course, the running track or the swimming pool – or supporting his football team, Arsenal. In Jamaica, he competed regularly in sporting events like the Montego Bay City Run, and could often be seen freediving and spearfishing with the fishermen of Hopewell, a fishing village near his home in Hanover Parish. In the UK, he used half-marathons as an opportunity to raise money for the charity Combat Stress, and at the time of his death was training for a triathlon he planned to participate in with his uncle and cousin.

On a personal level, Christie was an invaluable friend to me. He was always there to listen and offer support during difficult times, and to laugh and celebrate with me in good times. His absence will forever be sorely felt, by myself and many others.

Written by his close friend, George Duncan.  

*Photo: Christie with his parents Melody and Nigel in Spain in 2011*