Uncle D, 25 May 2005
Spoken at prayers
As was said already tonight – and earlier at the ground – everyone has their own personal images and recollections of Charlotte. She was know, loved and adored by so many.
But even as I say these words, I catch myself saying "Charlie was..." - and I don’t want to ever talk about her in the past tense again. Charlotte is and always will be a wonderful presence and influence in all our lives.
At this point, I should be quoting some wise Talmudic saying, but – forgive me Rabbi – the best I can come up with (and please excuse my rusty schoolboy latin) is to quote a line written by Virgil: "vivusque per ora feretur" meaning "he lives on, borne on the lips of men". In other words, as long as we continue to talk about Charlie – and we will – in that sense she will never die.
In any case, Charlotte’s presence has always been more than just physical. Messages, texts, emails and post-it notes of love and encouragement flowed from this most sensitive and expressive of human beings.
Only this morning, I was speaking to Charlie’s Grandma in Glasgow. She told me about a letter Charlie had written to her on an anniversary of our father’s death. The letter comforted her – so much so that she keeps it beside her bed to this day.
Now, anyone that knows the girls’ Grandma will know that she likes everything neat and tidy, just so. In her dining room there’s some particularly fine silk wallpaper. On one of the many occasions the girls (that’s spelled "gurrls" by the way) were up in Glasgow to visit cousins Suzie, Gillian and Nicky, Aunty Jenny, and Grandma, a game of monpoly ensued in that room. Fizzy drinks were brought in – and the inevitable happened: coke spritzed all over the wallpaper. Grandma never found out who did it.
Charlie – your secret is safe with us!
Finally, let me return to my first point about everyone having their own recollections of Charlie. Whilst she was in NYC, she met and worked on art history with friends of mine, Aimee and Monroe Price. I got an email from Monroe the other day and I’d like to quote from it (it’s sometimes easier to read other peoples’ words).
"We were thrilled to know her and see how beautifully and handily she commanded her environment here. She had such amazing poise and clarity. We’re grateful to you for introducing her to us and for the chance to have known her"
We are all grateful for the chance to have know our Charlie.