Charlotte had joined the Guide Association in Canada at the age of 10, and it became a lifelong passion. After moving to England she became a leader in Long Crendon where she influenced a great many girls, teaching them to be strong, adventurous and independent.
She loved sitting around a campfire, eating s’mores and singing campfire songs.
Guiding gave her an outlet for her planning and organising skills, which she used to great effect. She had an incredible ability to convince people to sign up for things that they would not normally have considered doing.
She was very proud to have visited 4 of the 5 World Guiding centres, London, Switzerland (many times), India & Mexico.
Nothing as mundane as mere weather would slow her down. As a Guide Leader in Canada when there was snow in June, she simply snow-shoed into the camp, although 18 month old Heidi did end up with a touch of frostbite!! And when the tail end of the aptly named hurricane Charley hit the Guide Camp in Somerset in 1986 they didn’t pack up and go home, although they had to catch a couple of the tents!
It was this dedication to the movement that saw her nominated to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2004 to be honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth. An event to which her daughters Andrea & Catherine invited themselves as chaperones!
Charlie wasn’t only the Guide Leader, she served in other roles including as the area’s Division Commissioner and as County Boating Advisor. It was through this role that she shared her love of canoeing and kayaking with many others.
