Les Charlton
It is with the greatest sadness that the Trustees have to tell you that Les Charlton, our loved and esteemed chairman passed away on Friday 29th April. Typical of the man's generosity of spirit, he did not wish the news of his illness to be common knowledge; he has been suffering for the last eighteen months and found that people's sympathy was harder to deal with than the illness itself; he didn't want people to feel uncomfortable about it when talking to him and preferred to keep the news to his immediate family and friends
He fought a very hard battle and dealt with the frustrations of a terminal illness with his usual dignity and dry sense of humour. He endured very uncomfortable periods of treatment with the comment - 'feeling a bit rough today', when he had been through hell.
Les did not suffer fools gladly and was staunch in defence of sufferers and supporters and always fought to the bitter end for what he believed in. His judgement, empathy and understanding made him an ideal chairman of OUCH and his is a role that will be impossible to fill - they truly broke the mould when they made Les.
Throughout he has had the support of his family; Joan - our membership secretary, daughter Karen - our publicity officer, son Gary, daughter in law and much loved grandchildren who were the apple of Granddad's eye. Les' strength came not only from a deep well of personal courage, but also from the love of his family.
The world will be a sadder place without this man who was big not only literally but figuratively – big in heart, in generosity, in kindness and understanding.
Our thoughts are with him and his family at this very sad time.
If members of OUCH wish to post their thoughts, a forum has been set up on the Members' Board >
Alternatively messages may be sent to:
info@ouchuk.org
