Christopher Saunders was the founder of the early Cambridge Phenomenon company, also founder of the Cambridge Enterprise Conference, a business angel and consultant, helping many people get their businesses - and their technology - off the ground.
The company he founded with Dr Malcolm Boston in 1959 was Torvac - electron beam welders, high vacuum furnaces. Torvac bred several spin outs, such as Wentgate and Tecvac, and survived the 70s recession and beyond before being sold to a plc.
In 1985, the company was identified in Segal Quince Wicksteed's study of The Cambridge Phenomenon as one of the original Cambridge phenomenon companies. After leaving Torvac, Saunders became an involved and productive business angel, working with other angels. He described himself as 'conducting the choir of business angels'.
Companies that have benefited from his unique blend of pragmatism and enthusiasm include Astron Clinica and Applied Scintillation Technologies. Back in 1996, he and two others - Walter Herriot and Dr Elisabeth Garnsey - developed the idea of the Cambridge Enterprise Conference, which aimed to bring together different communities all interested and involved in early-stage companies - the academics, whose technical developments were the seeds of the new products, the policymakers, who could create a positive or negative environment for early stage companies to develop, the business professionals that serviced the early stage sector from lawyers to accountants to PR people, and the entrepreneurs themselves.
Visitors to the conference regularly changed or added hats, so an entrepreneur would become a business angel and business advisor or an academic, an entrepreneur as they founded a company.
The Conference gained global recognition with speakers and delegates from every continent, winners of its business plan competitions have gone on to become well-recognised names such as Brain Juicer and Fresh Minds, and its constant emphasis on the practical, everything is possible is an inspiration to everyone involved in early stage companies in whatever capacity.
Other contributions to Cambridge life include coaching rowing at Pembroke and Kings Colleges as well as being host and chairman of AMBA, the East of England's Association of MBAs. Father of Philip Saunders, Kate Kirk and Lucy Saunders - all offspring have been entrepreneurial too. Saunders says that the value of creating employment is one of the most important contributions to society that anyone can make. His continuous support for entrepreneurs of all kinds is testimony to this belief.
Daughter Lucy shares memorial details:
20 February 2024 at 1 pm.
Crematorium service is at Cam Crematorium, Field Farm Dr, Great Chesterford, Saffron Walden CB10 1FE. Please note: For Sat Nav use CB10 1RP. https://www.camvalleycrematorium.co.uk/contact-map.php
Donations to charity rather than flowers please – charity was always a part of Dad’s life – will be sending round a link to a page giving you the opportunity to donate to Cicely Saunders International or CamRowers, both dear to Dad’s heart.
Memorial do will be at the Crown House Hotel, from 2 pm onwards. High tea will be served – lots of savoury things as well as cake and wine. Tel: 01799 530515. London Road, Great Chesterford, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1NY.https://www.crownhousehotel.com/en-GB/homepage