Simon Buxton

“We did Oriental Studies together and became fast friends early on through the Robinson gang. He wavered between serious political debate and drunken ridiculousness, as any semi-studious Scottish student should. Chris was immensely smart, far better politically educated than all of us put together and genuinely thoughtful - I think that for me was what set him apart. As I age, I realise that even great people can struggle to think beyond the ends of their noses, but Chris was always the first to make a huge effort to get on with my girlfriend, help my mum out with the cooking or entertain my dad. 

I came up for a fun Fringe weekend in Edinburgh once and I distinctly remember a long, beautiful walk in the Pentland hills behind your house, where he talked me into making some sea change life decisions that pushed me to where I am today. 

I was recently reminded of him by an encounter with a stranger who'd mentioned this accomplished, brash Mandarin-Hindi speaking Scot and I said, 'Aha, there is but only one Christopher Land!' So he obviously made impressions not just on me but on many elsewhere too. 

He was a dear friend who I was very close to and I will miss him dearly. I'm thankful for a good few memories of mischief to remember him by.”