KatieDawson wrote:I heard the news about Charlie on Radio 4 this morning.
I never met Charlie but I would say that he has been one of the most important people in my life, opening my mind and ears to music that has enriched my life in countless ways.
I first stared listening to his show The City Beats on Capital Radio in my early teens. I was amazed and intrigued by the music he played - noone else played anything like that.
His lack of ego and self-effacing manner as a presenter just served to highlight his pure enthusiasm for the music and his desire to share it.
I wrote to him to ask for a playlist and was so touched that he not only sent one but also sent me a couple of records that he thought I might enjoy.
A few years later I wrote to him again when he was doing Saturday Night on GLR. He said that I was welcome to come to the station and help out as a volunteer on the show. For various reasons (which seemed important at the time, but seem trivial now) I didn't take him up on this wonderful offer. I have regretted it ever since.
I feel so sad that he has gone, but also so grateful that he lived.
His gift to me is a life-long love of music and an appreciation of the need to be open-minded and open-hearted if we are to live fully.
God bless you, Charlie.
Dear, Dear Katie,
I have been trying to write something but, each time I have tried to write I am so overwhelmed with tears, sadness, anger, and disbelief that Charlie is really gone.
Even though I have read the many comments made by other contributors; some of which have made me smile, laugh out loud, cry, or think, yes, that sounds like Charlie, or think yes, I remember he once told me that, or think I didn't know that about him, or know that he did that. (Actually elsewhere there is story that the DJ Peter Young tells about Charlie and Rufus Thomas's "The Funky Chicken" - I laughed out loud when I read it. I can sort of picture it, yet at the same time I can't, if you know what I mean.) So though, I have been reading everyone else's contributions I didn't want to share my precious memories, and thoughts of Charlie on the forum.... perhaps one of the reasons was because it would make his death much more real to me.
I wonder if it's you I need to thank for the many years of a wonderful friendship I had with Charlie. I only wrote to him about volunteering for the phones as the person who was going to do it couldn't (he mentioned this on air, and requested more volunteers).
I thought my phone volunteering would be a one-time experience. My volunteering was to last close to 10 years until his BBC Radio London programme came to an end, and our friendship continued right up until Charlie's death. His friendship has had such a profound affect on me; in ways I am unable, and perhaps unwilling to explain.
I can't even begin to understand how Buffy, his family, and some of his oldest friends must be feeling.
If it was you...whoever it was, I thank you, most humbly.....Charlie was such a beautiful guy.
Thank you
Nikki