Message Sir Christopher was a great supporter of the choir and choral tradition at St Johns . It was always a pleasure to attend his annual garden party for the choir and former members where he and his wife were such generous and friendly hosts.
He will be fondly remembered by all who came upon him and sorely missed .

Message Professor Chris Dobson was like a father to me.

Message Chris was one of those gifted people who always made you feel the centre of his attention, even in the presence of someone so much more significant than you. He was a dedicated supporter of the Choir, and together with Mary always made us chorister parents feel valued and welcome at the Master's Lodge for numerous annual events, where children and adult gossip ran freely together under the magnificent trees.

Message Chris knew every single chorister by name from when he became a fellow in 2001 and subsequently as Master. He was a constant source of inspiration to me when I was both a chorister and a choral scholar at St John’s. He had bestowed my MA degree just in May this year and even then, when he was so ill, managed to make such a public ceremony personal to each graduand. Chris had unending faith in all the young people who had the privilege to know him. His touchingly quick sense of humour and ability to say exactly the right thing made anyone in his company feel completely at ease. Characteristically, Chris was always ‘suffering from a cough’ when the Gents routinely invited him to sing the solo in ‘Blue Moon’ at any rendition when he was present. I’ll remember him for his vocal support for the Gents’ Garden Party each year(!), his extraordinary self-deprecation and his genuine love of St John’s and all the college’s students and staff. A huge loss to the college and the world and he will be greatly missed.

Message Sir Christopher made a fantastic contribution to the College and to academic life in Cambridge. His contribution to the Finance Committee, where I worked with him for 12 years were always well considered and insightful. As Master he welcomed all with immense good grace and patience, and strengthen the College in its outreach , its academic esteem, and its financial strength.
My sincere sympathies to Mary and his two sons for their loss

Message Sir Chris was warm and had a wonderful sense of humour which served all of those whom he interacted with well. I was always impressed by his willingness to partake (and attend the entirety of) in May Balls each year, talking to students and enjoying the festivities with other members of the St John's community. I will mostly remember his fondness and kindness toward the Boat Club, and his eagerness to hear news of Bumps each year. Thank you for the generosity and kindness, Sir Chris.

Message I met Chris Dobson more than 15 years ago and had the very great privilege of having him as a friend since then. He was the most remarkable scientist I have ever met. To say he was brilliant is redundant, as in the circles he moved in brilliance is common. What set Chris apart was his genuine kindness and boundless enthusiasm to help others. He was interested in everything, spanning many different fields, and would do anything he could to help those wishing to push boundaries, no matter how challenging or risk-laden. As a result, he attracted all sorts of talented people to him, creating a unique network of scientific and personal connections and collaborations that has not been equalled anywhere to my knowledge. I will treasure my memories of meeting with Chris in the Lodge and discussing people and science. I, and many many others, will miss this man more than words can capture.

Message So very sad to hear this news. I shall be forever grateful to Chris for his guidance and support as I worked to complete my DPhil in Oxford following the tragic passing of my supervisor. A great man and inspirational scientist.

Message A wonderful Master and inspiring researcher who made such a positive impact on all of us during our time at the College.

Message I was enormously saddened to hear of Chris's death. I met him on a number of occasions, usually in the context of choir gatherings. He was a passionate advocate for the choir, and it flourished under his leadership of the college.

In addition to his interest in the current choir, he also took a keen interest in past members - I remember bumping into him at the stage door of English National Opera when a former choral scholar was performing.

But it was his kindness and warmth that was the most striking feature of meetings with him. He will be hugely sorely missed.