Tributes as Perthshire hotel boss loses cancer battle just months after marrying partner

Daily Record

17-07-2025

Chris Stanton, known as Mr Chris, married his fiancee Alice Maxwell at the hotel earlier this year in front of hundreds of their loved ones.
Tributes have been paid to Pitlochry Hydro Hotel general manager Chris Stanton who has died of cancer aged 56.
‌
In March this year Chris married his fiancée Alice Maxwell at the hotel in a ceremony attended by over 200 guests.
‌
Alice said this week it created a blended family of three beautiful daughters – Francesca, Isabelle and Amy.
‌
The happy occasion followed a three-year cancer battle – during which he climbed Ben Vrackie in a charity fundraiser he co-organised.
Sadly Chris passed away on June 21 at Cornhill Macmillan Centre, Perth.
Chris was born in Whiston Hospital on Merseyside and lived in Huyton until he was three, with his mum, dad, sister and two brothers.
He called himself a 'woollyback' and his sense of humour, warm nature and love of The Beatles came from the strong connection with Liverpool.
At the age of 16 Chris moved to London to work in various hotels for several years. He went on to work on cruise liners, exploring the world.
He also worked during ski seasons, blagging he could speak fluent French, but when it came to food and drink orders he had to ask his sister to help.
‌
Chris always wanted to be a dad and he came back to the UK to settle down, moving to Pitlochry in 2000, raising his two beautiful daughters Francesca and Isabelle, and working as general manager at the Pitlochry Hydro Hotel.
Chris loved music and volunteered at the local community owned Heartland FM radio station; Moonlight Drive was aired each Thursday and Sunday night, showcasing a range of music and quizzes entertaining Highland Perthshire.
Various friends and family joined him on a show or two.
‌
He was a keen writer producing stories, short plays and even a musical. He also created and produced a quiz board game called 'All Rounder' and sold them at local farmers' markets.
‌
Chris was well known around Pitlochry for his work at the Hydro. He was known as Mr Chris to his colleagues.
Many employees became friends, one of which Chris set up on a blind date and now the couple are happily married with two wonderful children.
He enjoyed going to gigs, walking his dogs, entertaining at home with his brilliant cooking, playing scrabble, tennis, running, and riding his Vespa.
‌
He was behind the name of the '100 step walk' by Pitlochry visitor centre and dam for which Chris and his daughters made the sign, sneaking down one night to erect it. The steps are now officially called '100 step walk'.
In 2022 Chris was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent successful surgery.
Late 2023 he was diagnosed with unrelated lung cancer and received further surgery and treatment.
‌
Only six months after he had his right lung removed Chris and colleague Csaba Kollo decided organise a charity walk 'Picnic up the Ben' which raised £7,486 with 50% of proceeds to Macmillan, 25% to local first responders and 25% to Pitlochry Paths.
Post operations and treatment Chris and his family thought that was the end of Chris's cancer, but unfortunately he started to experience back pain, which turned out the cancer had spread to his spine. Chris didn't have a bucket list, but he wanted to marry his fiancée.
During Chris's stay at Perth's Cornhill Macmillan Centre he was told even more devastating news in that the cancer had spread to his brain.
‌
Alice said: 'Chris stayed at Cornhill for over four weeks where the care he received was astounding, the whole team of consultants, doctors, nurses, health care assistants, auxiliaries and volunteers worked together delivering the best medical, personal and emotional care. Great support was given not only to Chris but to family and friends.
'Chris never stopped being positive and strong.
'The Cornhill team did everything they could to accommodate his wishes, including a couple of home days, film night and take away with the family and friends in the communal sitting room, two new tattoos (a first for the centre to have a mobile tattooist visit), surprising Chris and me with a bed for us to share, encouraging Chris that if he wanted to enjoy a cigar and dram at home for him to do so and much more... Chris's mum Ruth and sister Julie were named the 'Golden Girls' and stayed at the centre the whole time and like everyone were made extremely welcome.
'Everyone has shared loving words about Chris, his love of life was contagious and those who were in his world were so lucky to have known him.'
A JustGiving page has been set up in aid of Perth's Cornhill Centre: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alice-maxwell
His funeral service took place at Perth Crematorium on Monday July 14.