My friend Christopher Campbell, who has died aged 87, was a businessman, philanthropist and expert networker who made many friends in business, politics, arts and the civil service over his long career in retail and banking.
The soprano Lucy Crowe, who sang the aria Lascia Ch’io Pianga from Handel’s Rinaldo at his funeral, was one beneficiary of his philanthropy, having been financially supported by him through the British Youth Opera. He proudly called her his “protege”, and travelled the world to follow her performances. She in turn sang memorably at his 70th and 80th birthday parties. Christopher also endowed scholarships for young women studying Stem subjects at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
