BritWeek loses two great men
Dear BritWeek community,
It is a with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that two of our dearest BritWeek friends have passed away this week. Please join the BritWeek board in sending our deepest sympathy to their families and friends. We shall never forget these two bright stars.
Christopher Guy Harrison
Sir Kenneth Robinson
A message from Nigel Daly OBE, Chairman of BritWeek
19th August 2020
Christopher Guy Harrison gave so much to BritWeek. He brought his brilliance to the BritWeek Design Icon Award, honouring Ian Callum chief designer of Jaguar, designer Thomas Heatherwick and hat designer Phillip Treacy, to name a few. Chris brought such flair and grace to BritWeek. He was an elegant, charming man and a friend to all.
Christopher Guy Harrison, the creator and CEO of the Christopher Guy brand, was born in Britain, raised in Spain and France, and lived in Singapore, London, Los Angeles and New York. Christopher Guy furnishings has garnered worldwide acclaim and his name is at the forefront of international luxury furnishings and design.
He was a deeply compassionate man who cared for those who worked for him and created one of the greatest environments for his artisans to thrive. A unique and genuine person, who led a fascinating life and inspired all those who were lucky enough to know him.
He will be dearly missed.
21st August 2020
Sir Ken Robinson FRSA passed away after a brave battle with cancer. He was one of the greatest thinkers of our time. His famous TED talk will go down in history as one of the most illuminating talks about the future of education.
Sir Ken was a good friend to BritWeek, often sharing his brilliant wit and wisdom at many of our events. I know his many friends throughout Los Angeles will feel a great loss.
A great British author, speaker and an international advisor on education in the arts to government, non-profits, education and arts bodies. He was Director of the Arts in Schools Project (1985–89) and Professor of Arts Education at the University of Warwick (1989–2001), and was named Professor Emeritus after leaving the university.
In 2003 he was knighted for services to the arts. Originally from a working class Liverpool family, he was truly an original man who was a friend to many and who inspired an entire generation. His spirit lives on in the quest to make our education system better, something he believed in passionately. He will be dearly missed.
MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCES
From BritWeek Co-Founders Sharon Harroun Peirce and Bob Peirce
Sir Ken Robinson
We are deeply saddened by the death, this week in London, of our dear friend Ken Robinson. Sir Ken was known across the world for his work on education reform, in particular his mission to get schools to nurture creativity rather than suppress it with one-size-fits-all curricula. He was a masterful and funny public speaker. He was the most watched TED speaker of all time by a large margin, with many tens of millions of views online, and a bestselling author. For BritWeek, which he supported and by which he was honored, he represented the essence of the creative magic that exists between the U.K. and Los Angeles, where Ken and his wife Terry have lived for almost twenty years. For us, he was a close and warm-hearted friend, and his passing leaves a large hole in our lives.
Christopher Guy Harrison
This week we have lost a great friend of BritWeek and a close personal friends, Christopher Guy Harrison.
Chris Harrison, founder of the luxury furniture brand Christopher Guy, was a lover and creator of beautiful things, and a restless pursuer of excellence in design. Even his factory in Indonesia is a thing of beauty – looking more like an Aman resort than a place of manufacture. Events at his Beverly Hills showroom, often honoring BritWeek Design Icon awardees, were masterclasses in elegant hospitality. Chris was a rare kind of perfectionist – and a humble one. He did a great deal for BritWeek, as a sponsor, a board member and a fount of ideas. Most of all, Chris was a lovely, gentle and kind man. We shall miss him terribly.
A message from Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI FRSA
Christopher Guy Harrison
I was most saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Guy. He was a most accomplished designer and a true gentleman. I owe much to the recognition he so generously afforded me by putting on a major exhibition of my work in design and film at his West Hollywood showroom.A staunch champion of BritWeek, Chris further honoured my fellow Royal Designers, Ian Callum and Thomas Heatherwick with his Icon Award.
His passing is a huge lose not only to his family and friends but to the world of furniture design.