MY MEMORIES OF CHARLOTTE

I have had the privilege of knowing Charlotte for the last 16 years of her life.  I first met the family through her older brother Matthew, whom I met on a sailing holiday for Visually Impaired Sailors in Falmouth in the summer of 1994.  Mathew celebrated his eighteenth birthday at the beginning of the following year and I was invited to his Party, which is when I met Charlotte and the whole family.  Charlotte would have been about fourteen at this time and we discovered that we shared the same birthday, 11^th April.

Through getting to know Kay, Charlotte and Matthew’s mother, I learnt a lot about Alstroms Syndrome, the condition which both Matthew and Charlotte had been diagnosed with around the time I got to know them.  Kay gradually drew me into the circle of people who she had gathered around her whilst founding two charities.  The purpose of the first of these charities was to provide practical help for blind and visually impaired people, whilst the aim of the second was to coordinate families with members having a visual impairment linked to another medical condition.  The idea was to get more support and better dissemination of information for these families throughout Britain.  Kay invited this group of people and me to become Trustees of these two charities.  This followed on from Kay founding Alstrom’s Syndrome UK in 1999.  Previously virtually an unknown syndrome, Alstrom’s at the time of the charity’s foundation had less than 100 cases Worldwide.  Eleven years on, through Kay’s sheer determination and hard work, along with the rest of her team, which includes Genetic specialists and other  members of the medical profession, together with families affected by the syndrome the figure now stands at over 650.

Charlotte being born blind was educated at the West of England School in Exeter, moving to the RNIB New College Worcester, as a boarding student and later the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.  Charlotte proved to be very bright academically, as did Matthew.    Charlotte progressed to Plymouth University, while Matthew was attending Preston University aiming for a Business Studies degree at the time of his death.  Matthew died following a Heart Transplant in Papworth Hospital Cambridge in 2003.

Charlotte Parkinson: 11^th April 1981 – 28^th April 2010

Anyone who knew Charlotte would notice how sensitive she was to others in her company.  She had a great awareness and perception of what was going on around her, despite her dual sensory impairment.  Charlotte had a great love of literature, having read many books and poetry.  She joined our Writing Class at ACE a few years ago.  Not only was she a very popular member of the Class, but a most productive participant too, having  written some very powerful and moving poetry, along with other items, provoking interesting comments from the rest of the group.  (You can find examples of Charlotte’s work below this article).

Charlotte had a wonderful sense of humour, which seems to run in the family.  I remember her ‘party piece’ was reciting the well known monologue made famous by Stanley Holloway, of the story of ‘Albert and The Lion’, done in a very authentic North Country accent, much to everyone’s amusement.

Whenever I think of Charlotte I see calmness and serenity.  I never once remember her getting anxious or agitated over anything.  In fact, Sam our Writing Tutor, once said to me during Charlotte’s long absence from the Class due to her dialysis programme, “I miss her calming influence on the group.”  

Thank you Charlotte for all the love you gave us.  Thank you for just being.  Rest in Peace.

Biddy Shillitoe/Clark

Brixham Adult & Community Learning is mourning the passing of Biddy Shillitoe/Clarke who was a student at Brixham for over a decade. Her talents in the arts were shared with many people who were drawn to her because of her ‘vivacity for life’. Biddy was almost 89, but young in spirit and described by Linden Lynn, a fellow student, as ‘offering love, encouragement and colour to the world.’ She died after a short illness having recently received her award as an outstanding student at the South Devon College awards ceremony. She was nominated for her artistic talents by Jenny Harriman who encouraged her to exhibit her work last year as an inspiration to others.

Biddy first discovered the pleasure of working in clay when she was living and working in Northern Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo for 18 years. She was a physiotherapist who brought up her four children to explore the world they lived in. Her primary enjoyment of pottery began by making figures from anthill clay with the children, which the sun dried.

When she returned to England she enrolled for an evening class at a primary school in South London and there discovered the wonders of firing and glazing clay.  She continued to work as a physiotherapist in Devon. In 1973 she decided to link her medical knowledge to her interest in art and was accepted as a mature student at St Albans College of Art where she gained a diploma in Art Therapy.

This gave her access to the ceramic studio enabling her to express her ideas in clay. Later Biddy worked with the residents of Moorfield Psychiatric Hospital and with children at Mayfield School.

Aged 87 Biddy said “Due to my work as a physiotherapist the human body has always been an inspiration as have relationships in my life. These are reflected in the pieces I make for my own enjoyment. ‘Open Studios’ at Brixham College in September 2008 was the first opportunity for me to have a public exhibition and I was thrilled to show my work to others. I hope the public agreed with my grand-daughter who said with surprise in her voice ‘Gran has got a sense of humour’”.

Biddy took part with a show that has been likened to the work of Beryl Cook in 3D, with lots of quizzical and naughty creations!

Everyone who knew her will have delighted in her company and her sheer love of life - indomitable until the end.

Click here to see more photos of Biddy

Anna Teresa Howlett - 21^st July 1954 – 22^nd August 2008 

Anna lived in shared accommodation for disabled adults at Dragon’s Tail, Douglas Avenue, Brixham, where her apartment complex overlooks St Mary’s bay. She often remarked on how fascinating it was to look out across the bay at the English Channel and watch the ever changing moods of weather, sea and sky. She liked tending her small garden outside her apartment and feeding the birds on her balcony.

She was a regular user of the learning activities offered by the ACE charity at Brixham College and could often be seen travelling to class on her electric wheelchair. She enjoyed the varied topics of the Thursday Group, dressing up for theme days, the textile class and gardening.

Anna was a valued member of ACE and she is greatly missed.

Brian Motley (aged 74) passed peacefully away on Tuesday 29^th April 2008 after a short illness in hospital.

Brian was a familiar figure around Brixham for the past two decades. He lived at St Kilda’s and attended Adult Education classes at Brixham College and was a member of ACE (Access to Community Education). He would be seen each day tapping his way down town with a ‘hand rolled cigarette’ in his mouth. He would stop to chat to anyone he knew and for many years he helped on the tripper boats at the harbour.

Brian was a real character who excelled in the ACE pottery class making whimsical birds which he sold to supplement his pocket money. He would persuade people to buy them to provide more tobacco. Principal Chris Turner bought one of his swans for £10 and many commented that his work was good enough to be exhibited in high class art galleries. Indeed Brian along with all ACE members had his pottery mask and pots recently on show at the ACE 20^th Century Art exhibition at Brixham College last term.