Chris Wagstaff – RFT Director

We are very sad to learn of the death, on Friday January 19th, of  Chris Wagstaff, one of RFT’s former directors.

Chris was a member of the University of Reading's department of Modern Language and European Studies where he lectured in Italian Studies. He was involved with RFT for many years and always promoted the showing of European foreign language films.

He remained a critical but passionate advocate of cinema, and his recent work in archiving Italian films in digital format for Notre Dame University, Chicago was rewarded by the creation of the Christopher G. Wagstaff Film Collection, in 2017. 

Since his retirement, Chris revived and continued to develop his considerable musicianship as a jazz trumpet player, particularly in performing with, and so elegantly and eloquently presenting the Gli Avanzi quintet. He also played and performed with other thriving local ensembles, where his advice, energy and the gentle offering of sound advice will be most sadly missed.