Tribute to Charlie

Updated 24 September 2002

19-08-02 Dear Friends We made it! The 18km climb to 2115 metres was completed in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The girls (Judith and Rachel) led all the way up to the top encouraged by the French in holiday mood shouting for Les Filles. Local rider Graham Gilbert, knowing what was to come, stopped for a recuperative drink just past Bareges. Gary and Jeannie had already made it to the top having given themselves a headstart on the peloton. Super domestiques Aidan and Adam caught Judith and Rachel with 5kms to go and handed up new supplies of water provided by top soigneur Gareth Glynn (also photographer and driver extraordinaire). At 3kms from the top the relentless climbing started to bite and Judith cursed the climbs of England as mere molehills in comparison to the mighty Tourmalet. Rachel was muttering about "the things I do for you Charlie". Rachel found a bit of extra strength to sprint for the line once she had been told it was only a few feet round the corner and crossed it slightly ahead of her brother and the others. Claire, Alex, Naomi and Daniel were at the top cheering them on. The descent back to Luz St Saveur took Rachel and Judith 24 minutes. Adam descended like a demon and beat them all back. They arrived back in Gaillac to a fantastic party laid on by Alex and Claire with about 80 French and English locals, many of whom had read about the Charlie challenge in the local paper, Depeche du Midi. Thank you all for your support. For those who haven't already paid their sponsorship money you can either wait to see Judith or Rachel, or send a cheque made payable to RoadPeace to: Rachel at 51 Therapia Road, London SE22 0SD or Judith at 55 Claverdale Road, London SW2 2DJ Once all the money is collected we will have raised over £2,000. Thank you. Rachel Hedley rachel@rhpost.demon.co.uk Tel: 020 8291 3450 Fax: 0870 0513754 Mob: 07710 280757 On the way up... The group before the start at Pierrefitte Nestalas Rachel, Judith and Adam at the summit...

 

Charlie Curthoys was killed  on Thursday 10 January 2002 whilst cycling to work. He  was hit by a large lorry near Victoria Street and died at the scene. Charlie would have hit that magic 40 this August and had been in De Laune since August 1990. The funeral service was held at St Stephen's Church, College Road, on Monday 21 January 2002.  There were estimated to be over 300 people in attendance.  The cortège was followed by about 30 cyclist and the De Laune riders were at the head. A few of our riders met at Herne Hill Track prior to departing to see Charlie off.

 

Charlie Curthoys

If I should go before the rest of you, Break not a flower nor inscribe stone. Nor when I'm gone speak in a Sunday voice. But be the usual selves that I have known. Weep if you must, Parting is hell, But life goes on, So sing as well. Joyce Grenfell

 

Charlie doing what he loved

Daniel, checking it's all clear

Naomi on one of her early rides

One to cherish...

 

All together in the London Eye

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never in extremity, It asked a crumb of me. Emily Dickinson