Nice, 8 Apr 2000
Mark and Van Freedman - Our wedding in Nice... I have a vivid memory of that Saturday morning, walking down the Promenade des Anglais; beautiful blue skies (it pissed down the rest of the weekend), thinking about the wedding the next day and bumping into a sweaty Char and Martin on Rollerblades, clearly killing some time before the main event.
I always wondered how they got their blades, helmets etc on Easyjet... never missing an opportunity to live life to the max... wherever possible...
MRB
- I remember this well, we arrived on the Friday night in Nice and
checked into the hotel, we went down to the Promenade the next day and
couldn't wait to go for a skate. I think wqe spent the whole day on
wheels. We got some funny looks from Hotel reception when we
returned (and some of the wedding guests, I imagine), but we both
really enjoyed ourselves.
London, 2001
Sion Portman - I think I only met Charlote once but felt I
knew her a little better through knowing Martin and Sophie. To me the
sisters have the same joy for life, the same happy smile and the same
generous concern for others. It's that generosity that I remember most
of Charlotte. I went round to see Martin one evening for a catch up as
Charlotte was out. I hadn't met her before so decided to stick around
until she came back so I could say a quick hello then make my way home.
Charlotte returned, we exchanged greetings, then I got ready to go.
Just as I was opening the door Charlotte casually asked if I'd had
anything to eat. 'No' I replied. That's when it started. Charlotte
spent the next 10 to 15 minutes offering me every possible combination
of food in her kitchen. We started with snacks and worked up to full
hearty dinners, some of which requiring Martin to go out and purchase
extra ingedients. I continued to politely decline. She continued to
happily offer. And that's what I remember, a beautiful, smiling woman,
looking down on me as I descended the stairs, offering me food with
relentless generosity. I swear I was half way down Kilburn high road
and I could still hear the suggestions coming from where she stood.
Charlotte, I never did find out what your cooking is like. I wish I had....
London, Summer 2001
Stephanie Bretherton - Charlotte and I had many girly heart-to-hearts. Always a good listener, she was also always ready with not so much advice but rather thoughts and considerations. Of course, we also talked relationships, especially as I often seemed to be so spectacularly bad at such things, so often making unwise choices and prioritizing the wrong things. Charlotte once made such a special and memorable point, it so moved me and made me cry then and now. She said that it was the small things - the gestures of kindness, thoughtfulness and genuine understanding that should indicate whether someone was right for you. To illustrate she told me the story of how she had come home from work one day, stressed and irritable, and not much inclined to conversation. She said that you had judged her mood perfectly and instead of trying to talk her out of it, or get moody yourself, you did a simple but beautiful and touching thing that relieved the stress and made her laugh. Not only did you make the dinner that night, but you served her a “Happy Salad” with a smiley face of cucumber rounds and tomato slices for eyes. It lifted the black clouds immediately and made her feel loved and appreciated. Fabulous. So ever since then I’ve been keeping my eye out for my out for those “happy salad” clues. And they have found their way to me, in one way or another.
Marbella, New Years 2001
Vikki Bentwood
- This picture is of us all getting into the spirit of New Years Eve
2001, Orange Square, Marbella. Certainly a holiday to remember. It has
always made me smile, now just more so.
MRB - On December 16th 2001, Char and I found out that she was pregnant with Solly. It was the best birthday present I ever had, unbeatable, in fact. The problem was - "How long do we wait before we tell anyone?". I think Char told Sophie within a few moments, but what about our friends? We had planned to go away to Spain with Richard, Vikki, Rob and Leila to stay at the Bentwood's flat in Marbella. We would never be able to keep the secret, they would work it out (no drink, no smoke! dead give-away. It turned that Vikki and Richard were going through the same dilemma, as Vikki was pregnant with Hannah. We spent a (relatively) sober New Years Eve in Orange Square wearing some very silly hats and smiles.
Richard & Vikks Wedding, 4 Feb 01
Richard Bentwood -
It seems a shame that when a picture tells a story of a thousand words
that there should be a narrative alongside which can only serve to
constrain the story the picture presents. However, for those of you who
don’t know this story a brief background should suffice. February 4th
2001. The day of Vikki’s and my wedding. The event was held at the
Churchill Hotel with Martin the master of ceremonies. Charlotte
by this time was happily married to Martin and both as best friends and
close neighbours having them at our wedding was a necessity. There came
a moment when Charlotte lost the diamond from her engagement ring at
some stage during the dancing. It is testament to Charlotte’s attitude
that she wouldn’t let any personal misfortune impact on the happiness
of others. As I recall, the first I learnt of it was when it was found
some time later. This photo nicely preserves the moment of finding.
There are a few things I particularly like about this photograph.
Firstly is Martin’s expression. To my mind it speaks to a certain
resignation as if mentally saying “Oh, Charl’s lost something again”
coupled with his obvious love for Charlotte for precisely the same
reasons. Secondly is Charlotte’s smile. When I think of her now, it is
her smile which remains foremost in my mind and this photo shows not
only her smile in its full glory, but also her obvious joy of life.
Seville, Jan 2002
Rob Carter
- Leila and I will always remember spending some beautifully sunny
days with Charlotte, Martin, Richard and Vikki in and around
Seville. We stayed in this amazing castle surrounded by hundreds of
orange groves and gently rolling hills. A perfect retreat after some
serious New Year's partying in Marbella. Such a happy time for all of
us - especially as Charlotte had just revealed to us all that she was
pregnant (for the first time) - a true moment of joy, as a new year
brings a new life.
Queen's Park, July 2002
Jeremy Coleman - Here is a really beautiful picture of Charlie sitting on my bar just before Super Sol was born.
I enjoyed her regular visits when she used to cycle to and from work when you lived round the corner from me.
Charlotte the Mummy, 2002 – 2005
Sophie Stannard - I loved spending time with Char as a Mummy, I loved her refreshing honesty about it and I really felt she was a kindred spirit on that level. She couldn’t be bothered with all the “sacrificial altar of motherhood” nonsense, bleating on about how wonderful motherhood is and how wonderful her children are. She didn’t need to because she knew it and she knew the downsides too! I have fantastic memories of spending time with her and Solly in the park and both of us having to turn away because we were giggling about something naughty Solly had done and she had to tell him off and look terribly serious.
Plympton Road, Aug 2002
Jo - Aunty Char. Just after Solly was born with his new adoring cousins, Josh & Nat.
Glasgow, Sept 2002
MRB - 10
days after Solly was born we drove from London upto Glasgow for my
Grandma Freda's (GG) 90th birthday party. Solly was
named after my grandfather and she was so excited and proud to have him
there. There has been a relationship between the Woolfson's and
the Goldbergs forever, and there was a very special bond between Charl
and Grandma.
Dorit Dale
- I was sitting opposite Charlotte as she cradled Solly in her
arms, occasionally breastfeeding him and chatting with everyone
around. I marvelled at both of you travelling up to Glasgow so
soon after Solly's birth, but in particular Charlotte, as I can imagine
how tired she felt. But of course she didn't mention it! She
would never complain! Bringing Solly up to meet Grandma brought
enormous pleasure to everyone, but of course in particular to
Grandma. Everyone was so touched that you named him after Grandpa.
Plympton Road, Oct 2002
Nader, Kirsti, Ayesha & Adam Shaheen - Emerging
from a matinee performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and wiping the
tears from my eyes as I hummed 'Hush-a-by Mountain', I decided it was
time to unleash the Shaheen's onto the newly babied Brass's.
I had not yet met my old schoolmates' wife and without so much as a by-your-leave we descended upon Martin and Charl high on Michael Ball!
Now Sol was about 3 months old at the time, and my two children, Ayesha and Adam were 5 and 4 respectively and spent most of their time bouncing off of things, running, jumping, skipping etc.
Charl took everything in her stride. The massive increase in noise levels, the crash in the living room. And for 3 hours Kirsti and I were treated to Charls company for the first time. We were immediately made to feel welcome and at ease. I love her sincerity and straightforward delivery. Kirsti said to me afterwards that if she had lived in London, she would easily have hit it off with Charl.
Tea and biscuits and not too much damage later, it was time to leave. I have known Martin since we were 13, but our lives have unfolded in different ways, in different countries, and I was under no obligation to like Charlotte as the wife of my oldest friend. But I did. Very much.
It was my privilege to have visited and left in the knowledge that Martin had found a real soul mate and trusted friend.
Thank you Charl.
(Bahrain, November 2005)
Suffolk, Nov 2002
MRB -
It was the first time we had gone away for the weekend since Solly was
born. James (I think Annicka was away) invited us and Rob and Leila to
Suffolk for the weekend. We stayed in James' uncle and aunt's
cottage which was down a flooded unpaved path. I seem to remember
James losing his license plate in one particularly deep puddle (never
to be seen again).
On the Saturday we went for a really long walk towards the coast. I think we walked for hours. We had fish and chips and by the time we were ready to go home it was getting dark. I remember the most amazing sunset that evening. We took a cab back to the cottage and cooked a leg of lamb with brussel sprouts, polished off with some fine armagnac. Fantastic weekend.
Josh and Nat's second birthday party, Dec 2002
MRB
- Fortunately for me, Josh and Nat's birthday is just a few days from
my own (just 26 years apart). This means that I get to celebrate
it with them, and on their second birthday (for the record Jo, I am almost 38
in this picture) I also got a cake. The look you see on my face
is one of surprise... not one of a man about to sneeze.
Savannah / Boca Raton, New Year's 2002
MRB - Solly wasn't even 6 months old and we decided to take
him to Florida for a few weeks holiday.
While we were there we decided to meet up with Stuart and Judy Stein who had recently moved to Ashville, NC from New York. I will always regard Stuart & Judy as my New York parents. We met in Savannah and spent a fab few days there. Char and I had been there before in the summer of 95 when we drove down the east coast and it had become one of our favourite places. We went to the beach at Tybee Island on a beautiful morning and as we walked along pushing Sol in the buggy a pod of dolphins swam feet away us in the shallows. That day we went to the Crab Shack for lunch and stuffed ourselves on stone crab and shrimp.
We drove back to Boca and spent New Years with Mark and Josette Mason, who had driven down from Orlando to meet us. Mark used to work with me in New York and he and Josette had recently got married.