Anne Copley
Anne Copley and Wendy Chapman remember fellow Trust supporter Chris Robillard, a fervent champion of Italians who gave refuge to escapees such as his father David.
It is with great sorrow that we have heard of the death of Chris Robillard on 22nd August 2025. Chris was an enthusiastic supporter of the Trust and very active in keeping the memory of his father’s time in Italy alive.
He was in the early stages of a collaboration with Trust supporter Wendy Chapman on a book about the 18 months that David Robillard and her own father spent together in the Veneto region. Chris had his own publishing company and had already produced From Barry to Bari, being a combination of his father’s memoir and Chris’s own comments. I was able to quote from it extensively in my book The Girl with a Peach.
Chris made several visits over the years to the village of Asparetto, in the Veneto, where his father was kept safe by the Ferrari family. The first came at the age of 14 with his family, when Chris was astonished to discover his father arguing in fluent Italian with a policeman trying to give him a parking ticket! Years later he returned to present a plaque which finishes with the words: This plaque is from the Robillard family presented in May 2011 as a testament of respect, gratitude and affection for the Italian people.
Always a sportsman with a particular love of tennis, Chris was still very active in 2017 when he completed a 150km walk to pay tribute to his father and to the Italians, ending in a reception in Cerea, the nearest town to Asparetto, to which he donated copies of his father’s book.
It is a comfort to know that Chris could still fulfil his commitment to the story of his father and the Italians right up to his last days. In April 2025, he appeared at the annual celebration in London of Italy’s Liberation Day and spoke of his gratitude to the Italian people for their courage.
Our condolences go to his wife Barbara and all his friends who will miss him dearly.
Wendy Chapman adds: By an amazing twist of fate, I first made contact with Chris back in 2013 when, totally unbeknown to each other, we had both made emotional journeys of discovery to Asparetto.
Our initial contact very quickly turned into a firm friendship, just like the one shared by our fathers all those years before during their time in war-torn Italy.
Chris was incredibly passionate in wanting to keep their story alive and he worked on many projects to do just that. In fact, at the beginning of this year, with his typical, boundless enthusiasm and energy he suggested we work on a book together. Because of you Chris, their story will live on.
Chris touched many lives with his kindness, compassion and empathy and will be missed by all of us who had the privilege to know him as a very special friend.
