Sunday, April 7, 2024
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This picture is me (centre) with Joice & Charlie, my daughter Merry and a friend, enjoying ice cream on a visit to Kew Gardens in 2003.
My abiding memories of Uncle Charlie are his kindness, generosity and sense of fun. When I first visited as a teenager after leaving school, he, Joice and Debbie gave me the most wonderful introduction to California, making me so welcome. He was so enthusiastic for me to learn to water ski, he kept on driving the boat for me, as I failed to get up time after time. He said, with some wonder, that he'd never seen anyone try so hard for so long and not succeed. I think my best run had me upright for about 5 seconds and I was so surprised, I fell off.
My husband, Bill, will never forget Charlie's amazing peaches, picked from the trees around his garden. The experience of having to eat them, still warm from the sun, over the kitchen sink because they were so juicy, has never been equalled. He still thinks they are the best peaches he has ever had. All the family in the UK enjoyed the semi-dried ones that he sent for many years - we appreciated how much effort it took him to prepare, dry and send them.
Most of all I will remember his enormous love for my Auntie Joice, and hers for him. I hope they are happy together again now.
