About - The Christine Best Foundation

About the Foundation

The Christine Best Foundation is a charitable trust based in Weybridge, Surrey, United Kingdom, established by the late Christine Best in 2012 following the news that she was suffering from terminal cancer.
During her lifetime, Christine encouraged people of all ages and ability to develop a love of music and to enjoy the many benefits to be gained from performing, composing and listening to music. Her intention was for the charity to continue her passion for bringing the local community together through music. She enriched hundreds of individuals’ lives through helping them to discover and develop, at the very least, a lifelong and life-enhancing enthusiasm for music and, in many cases, through identifying and nurturing genuine musical talent. Her vision for the charity was to increase musical opportunities within the local community by encouraging the development of non-auditioning instrumental and choral groups for the young and not so young; to help musicians of notable musical ability from disadvantaged backgrounds to further their musical education and performance; and to encourage collaboration between composers and musical organisations within the local community.

The Foundation aims to :

Promote public appreciation of choral and instrumental music through performance and participation by members of the public of any age and ability;

Support the development of musical potential within the community to which Christine Best devoted her working life through teaching and conducting by making grants available to:

1. Non-auditioning choral and instrumental organisations situated within a radius of five miles of St. James’s Church, Weybridge, Surrey; and

2. Disadvantaged individuals who can demonstrate a notable talent for music and who are situated within a radius of five miles of St, James’s Church, Weybridge, Surrey, for the furtherance of their musical education and performance.

The Trustees

Chris Chinn

Canon Robert Jenkins

Robert Jenkins was title curate at St James, Weybridge from 2000 to 2004 when Christine was Director of Music. Christine was a great support to Robert during his curacy and they worked closely together at both the church and St James’ School. Robert’s wife Ann was encouraged by Christine to join the choir and she has been a member for 16 years. In 2004 Robert moved to be Rector of Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon. On his retirement in 2017 he returned to St James’ Church and has joined the choir. Christine’s incredible generosity and passion for encouraging young people to learn, play and sing music were an inspiration and he was delighted to be invited to join the Trustees.

Niki Moore

Niki attended St James Infant school before moving to Weybridge Middle School where Christine was Deputy Head and ran the school choir. At the age of 10, Niki was asked to join St James' Church choir by Christine where she was the then Director of Music. 30 plus years later she's still in the choir! In 2020 NIki took over the role of Parish Administrator at St James Church. She lives in Pyrford with her Husband and children.

Sue Scrivener

Sue has been a member of St James’ Church since 1976 and knew Christine since that time. Her children attended Weybridge Middle School, later to become St James Primary School, whilst Christine was a teacher there. Sue’s children were all members of the St James’ Church Choir, where Christine was Director of Music, with her daughter attending for many years and also being taught piano by Christine. Sue joined the admin team at St James Primary School, working there for 20 years. She has now retired from the School and is honoured to be a Trustee of the Foundation set up by Christine.