Charlotte Elise Walker

14th March 1998 - 20th February 2008

❤ Some of the music Charlotte had on her MP3player is now added to the video section ❤

*** Thank you so much for the many candles,gifts and tributes left for Charlotte's first Angel Day
and Charlotte's 11th Birthday - we really do appreciate your kind thoughts, and apologies for the
lack of candles in the last few weeks ***


** Remembering Charlotte **


Hello. My name is Rob Glozier headteacher of Townley School and on behalf of the staff and children
I would like to say a few words in memory of Charlotte.

Charlotte was a delight to teach and whenever I think of her I remember that infectious smile and a
great sense of humour. She even laughed at my jokes!

I asked the children at the school what they liked about Charlotte. Here are some of their
thoughts.

* Charlotte was amazing at ballet.
* No matter what she was doing she was always smiling and
cheerful.
* I liked her art work - I wish I could draw like her. I liked her
clay pot. (Incidentally I had a letter last week to say that
Charlotte had won an art competition)
* Charlotte taught me how to play 'What's the time Mr Wolf?'
It was great!
* Charlotte was a brilliant friend - she was like an angel.
* Charlotte looked after me when I went to the pantomime.
* Charlotte was such a happy, friendly and talented person.
She helped me to be happy as well.
* Charlotte was a very intelligent, clever and happy girl. She
was brilliant at everything. I enjoyed being on the school
council with her, she always had good ideas.
* I enjoyed doing the ballet shows with her.
* She was always there when someone had a problem.
* Charlotte was my best friend. she used to sit next to me in
the classroom. I know she is somewhere safe and is probably
smiling right now.
* Even if you were not nice to Charlotte she was always nice back.
* Charlotte was good at art, ballet and mostly everything.

On behalf of everyone at Townley - Goodbye Charlotte
You were a real Star.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When first asked to talk about Charlotte today, my initial thought was not what do I include, but
rather what do I leave out, because there is so much that could be said.

Charlotte's first day at Townley really set the pattern for her time with us. Lynn told us she went
home 'still slightly apprehensive', but 'full of it''. Staff in Class 2 also felt slightly
apprehensive 'how were we going to keep up with her?
Her energy and enthusiasm in all areas was endless. As soon as explanations and instructions were
given, there would be
a flash of a long blonde plait and then focus until the task was complete. If Charlotte needed
further clarification she would wait, push a piece of hair back behind each ear, pull down the
hem of her jumper and tugging at her cuffs ask what was needed.
On completion of work she was not only able to say 'that parts good, but also 'I think that part
could be better'.
Regardless of the activity she gave a hundred per cent.
The escapades she shared in Show and Tell, from gaining her driving licence at Legoland, having not
just water fights, but Marks & Spencer's bottled water fights, her weekend course with Wayne Sleep
and bringing in her kittens for us to share not only brought a smile to our faces, but also again
demonstrated Charlotte's enthusiasm for all she did.
Charlotte agreed to give a talk to playgroup about her ballet.
By the time she had finished children and staff alike were pointing toes and attempting plies. Her
enthusiasm was infectious.
Whether as a writer, an avid reader, mathematician or one of Pinocchio's puppets we will all hold
vivid and varied memories of her.

For me the mischievous sparkling eyes, ready smile and ability to communicate with all ages will
make up just a few of my memories.

It was both a privilege and delight to teach, Charlotte.

Maggie Ford


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


People outside of the ballet world think that to be a good dancer you just need to be slim, musical
and good at coordination, which for most children going to ballet that's fine. But there are two
extra ingredients that make a dancer that little bit more special.
The first is a good brain, and from a very early age it was obvious that Charlotte possessed the
mathematical brain power to make a very good dancer. She would instinctively remember a complex
sequence of steps that left her peers floundering and even as young as 5 or 6 the rest of the class
would fight to be her partner. This became known as 'sharing Charlotte's brain cell'.

As she got older and her dancing talent began to blossom, Charlotte left her age group behind and
moved into older age groups, particularly in tap. Here, her diminutive size was emphasized further
as she danced with children some 3 or 4 years older than herself who towered over her. But the older
children didn't in anyway resent Charlotte, as, like in previous age groups they soon began to rely
on her remembering the steps, keeeping them in time with the music and really appreciated her
efforts in trying to help them when they struggled. She proved a surprisingly patient teacher,
enjoying our secretly exchanged raised eyebrows when some of the class failed to master a step that
she considered very simple.

But the other special ingredient that Charlotte had and which most other children struggle to
achieve, was an inner spark that defied you to take your eyes off her. The desire to dance
came from within, and sparkled and radiated once the music started. She didn't realise she had it
and until recently wouldn't dare dazzle us with that smile, preferring to look at the floor and not
her audience when performing.
But bribery works wonders and at our show 3 weeks ago, Lynn and Charlotte 'agreed terms'. In
exchange for smiling at the audience and not the floor, Charlotte would be paid.
Was this the maths brain at it again?

Over the last 18 months, Charlotte began to fulfill the early potential, winning a scholarship for
her dancing and spreading her wings to more of my classes, who in turn accepted her as the gifted
dancer she was becoming. But she didn't suffer fools and hated it when the less motivated in the
class didn't work to her standards of commitment. In fact, she had no hesitation of telling 12 and
13 year olds to stop messing around or to be quiet before I could open my mouth - often no words
were necessary, a look said it all!!
But they took it from her, more out of surprise, that such forthright comments could come from one
so small. Even my own daughter had cause to feel put in her place on one occassion when she turned
up to ballet as Charlotte was leaving. My daughter arrived wearing a top that she knew I hated and
wished it had found its way to the jumble sale many months earlier.
Charlotte saw my disapproving look to Hayley as she came through the door, strutting as only fashion
conscious 11 year olds can and again, before I could say a word, she'd turned to Hayley and said
'oh, did you get that at a charity shop'
and then smiled at me as much to say 'don't worry, job done'

Charlotte was such a joy to teach for the past almost 7 years; even if that hair was TOTALLY
impossible to get into a bun on exam days - they just don't make bun nets big enough! She was always
eager to learn, to help others and take the lead, as she did so beautifully in our show last month.

In Psalms 149 it says "praise his name with dancing" and that's exactly what Charlotte did. She
danced with total joy!

Michelle Rasdall - Samara Ballet School

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Charlotte joined Girls Brigade in 2003 as a bright eyed 5
year old with long blond hair and a lovely smile which we
all remember her for.

Charlotte made friends easily and soon settled into Girls
Brigade. She completed three Explorer stars, one Junior circle
and four years attendance. She was proud to wear her
uniform and always looked smart even when she had got
changed in the car after ballet.

The girls remember that she loved to dance and had an
amazing singing voice. She was always smiling and very polite
and always had time for her friends. Friday nights will never
be the same again.

Charlotte loved to perform and at the age of just 7 she took
the lead role in our play ' The Snow Child'. She will always be
remembered as our 'Girl of the Snow' for her stunning performance.

Charlotte lived her life to the full and we all have some lovely
memories which will never fade. She was liked by so many,
loved so much by those close to her and will be greatly
missed by everyone.

Cheryl Snowden - Captain Girls Brigade

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Letter To Charlotte From Grandma and Granddad

To our dearest beloved Charlotte

The greatest gift we were blessed with during our lives was
you. You were more than we could ever have wished for -
beautiful, talented and with such an engaging smile that it
could win all hearts over.

We have such fond memories of life with you:

* You bouncing on your first trampoline and looking round to
see if we were watching - you still had an audience;

* In Paris, when you were only 3 years of age, being carried
on Granddad's shoulders, and skipping down the streets,
singing Christmas carols in January. All much to the
amusement of the Parisians;

* Granddad putting you to bed and reading bedtime stories,
which sometimes meant you reading to Granddad and
him falling asleep;

* After shopping/ visiting the cafeteria in a Tesco store, and
accompanying Grandma to the toilet. Both of us ran back to
see who could get back to Mummy and Granddad first. You did
of course. Mummy told YOU off for running in a place where
there were hot drinks. To which you indignantly replied...'well
Grandma did';

* You being swung around by your arms, and always wanting
to go faster (much to Mummy's concern). Once you said it
was Granddad's turn, but you were very optimistic when
you asked Granddad to hold your hands and run round you
very fast and then lift his legs up;

*Your first solo cycle ride on the greensward on Worthing
seafront , with 'Henry' rabbit kitted out with his own safety
helmet seated in the cycle carrier. You turned and asked if
Granddad was still holding onto you. With Granddad puffing
out, 'no I'm 6 feet behind you'.

We thank you so much for bringing us so much joy and
happiness into our lives.

You said to a friend you wanted to go to heaven, but our
deepest wish was that you could have stayed with us for
longer. We can only hope that you are now under the caring
wings of your family there.

You will always be in our hearts and minds as our dancing,
bubbly, energetic and beautiful Granddaughter.

With our eternal love and lots of hugs and kisses...
From
Grandma and Granddad


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In her so short life, Charlotte achieved such a lot. Her dancing was her pride and joy she so much
enjoyed and we are certain she would have made the grade to become 'top of the tree'.

We met Charlotte when she was but a few hours old and we were so proud to have a Grandaughter. We
know her parents are completely devestated as all her Grandparents are and we will NEVER recover
from this tragedy fully. We are certain this is true of a lot of other people.

My wife and I wish to remember the happy times we spent with Charlotte - albeit they were not as
often as we wanted due to our health problems.

Several times Andrew,Lynn and Charlotte travelled up to our home in North Wales so we could travel
on the Father Christmas Special Trains which run on the narrow gauge railways and together with her
cousins we had a wonderful time together. We will never forget Charlotte and her cousins
Emma,Richard and Matthew playing hide and seek over the seats of the train laughing as only little
girls do(and in this case boys as well!!). These memories will never leave us and next time we do
the Santa trip, Charlotte will be remembered.

We only hope Charlotte will find peace in that other place which we are sure she will, and also that
she meets up with her Cousin and they have happy times together.

We are proud she held our family name for those short years.

With our love

Mama and Papa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Our Little Friend Has Left Us ? **

Stop the sun from rolling by,
Our little friend has left us,
Stop the tide and time go by,
Our little friend has lost us.

~

Stop the balloons at parties, the candles on the cake,
Stop the dance, stop my dreams, stop this pain,
Theres been a huge mistake,
Our little friend has left us.

~

No one in that chair at school,
The playgrounds one laugh empty,
No one writing poetry,
Painting the pictures she could have sent to me.
No one for the ballet lead, to keep the rest in line,
No more singing songs, no sense in matching time.

~

Time won't bring me birthday cards,
Time won't show me grooms,
time won't see her dreams,
bring that laughter to my rooms.
My little friend has left us.

~

Stop crying now
No more, to what is not,
Our little friend has left us
something that we have still got,
That not all love is romance,
It's in a hug, a kiss, a dance,
That not all dreams take forever,
Half we have is just pure chance.
Hold on to what you have,
My friend knew this was true,
Take the best of what you have
and give the love thats still in you.

~

And that is some,
Of what, our little friend has left us...

Uncle Christopher


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



** While Waiting For Thee **

Don't weep at my grave
For I am not there.
I've a date with a butterfly
To dance on the air.
If I'm missed, find a flower
I'll be there too.
Sniffing it's fragrance
Right next to you.
Don't be sad
When you remember me.
For I'm singing in the sunshine
Wild and free.
Flirting with the lighting,
Playing tag with the wind,
Chasing the thunder
Time and again,
Soaring with the eagle,
Swimming in the sea,
Enjoying all of nature
While I'm waiting for thee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Had she felt able to on the day Charlotte's teacher would have liked to add the following;

There is an empty Charlotte shaped space in my classroom; it will never be filled because Charlotte
was unique.

In my mind and my heart there are Charlotte shaped places. These are filled with giggles and smiles;
cartwheels and handstands; skipping and dancing. but what will I remember most about Charlotte?
Above all else I will remember Charlotte's face and it's many expressions,

...the over the glasses doleful 'are there any indoor jobs on this very cold lunchtime?' look

...the 'don't disturb me now I'm in the middle of a difficult sum' look

...the 'please don't stop me reading now!'look

...the sideways glance when she got the joke and others were still working it out

...the big grin when the jokes were good

...the withering looks, when they weren't

...the eyes that were filled with pride and a hint of shyness when she was praised

...the faraway look as the stories flew from her imagination on to the page

...the face that lit with joy when she showed me the gift, from her Mum, of a copy of Romeo and
Juliet

...and the mischievous look as she and her friends played, chatted and hatched plans together

I had the pleasure of teaching Charlotte for only a short time, but Lynn and Andrew; it was a very
real pleasure.

Helen Chappell


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




This eulogy was From The Celebration of The Life Of

Charlotte Elise Walker on 3rd March 2008

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH CHARLOTTE


*******************************************************

http://www.samaraballet.co.uk/Charlotte_s_Fund/charlotte_s_fund.html