‘Thank you for being our son, our friend. You will be in our hearts and minds forever’ – The Irish News

When Charlie and Mabel Oldcroft told customers this week that they would not be reopening their Moorings restaurant in Co Fermanagh, there was an outpouring of support on social media.

The couple suddenly lost their 35-year-old son Christopher three months ago and announced that it would not be possible to continue without him.

In addition to being their “wonderful and talented” middle child, Christopher was also the head chef of the restaurant in Bellanaleck and was the driving force behind the restaurant’s development starting in 2017.

With talent in the kitchen and parents welcoming guests front of house, The Moorings has been voted Fermanagh’s best casual dining restaurant for three years running and was the overall winner in Northern Ireland in 2019.

Christopher had an interest in cooking since his childhood growing up in Coleraine; He had gone from working part-time washing dishes and preparing desserts at the Silver Sands cafe in Portrush to honing his craft in some of the leading kitchens on the north coast.

Family members joined him in his work in catering and when the chance came to open their own restaurant in his father’s hometown of Fermanagh, they took the plunge.

Christopher was a confident presence in the crowded kitchen and determined to make the business a success.

His friends and customers remembered his warm, mischievous smile and gentlemanly manners, a character that impressed everyone he met.

Outside of work, he was a devoted father to nine-year-old Jaxon and continued to live at home with his family.

They had a very proud day together on August 10 this year when sister Nicola celebrated her wedding.

But they woke up the next morning to find Christopher had died in his sleep following a seizure of suspected heart pain that his father “could not describe or understand”.

“If you have children, give them the biggest hug and if you love someone, tell them often. “Tomorrow is not promised,” he said.

In a Facebook post this week, the family confirmed their decision not to reopen The Moorings after “an astonishing and incredible seven and a half years”.

Paying tribute to customers and everyone who helped the initiative, they also took the opportunity to publicly thank Christoper, whom they “love and miss every day”.

“Thank you for being our son, our friend, and for taking us on this wonderful journey. You will be in our hearts and minds forever.”

Christopher Oldcroft died on 11 August and is survived and sadly missed by his parents Charlie and Mable, son Jaxon, siblings Nicola and Adam and grandparents Charlie and Ethel.

** The Irish News publishes a selection of readers’ obituaries every Saturday. Families or friends are invited to submit accounts of people they think have contributed to their community or simply lived an interesting or noteworthy life. Call or email Aeneas Bonner on 028 9040 8360 [email protected].