Addendum

Included below are some of the messages that were sent to Charlie on his fortieth birthday from the people he loves and who love him.

– Dearest Charlie!

You know how happy I have been to be the ghost writer of your biovella: it’s been such a rewarding experience full of love, learning, healing and creativity for both of us. My wish for your 40th birthday is the birth and healthy growth of your Book … much love for ever. Mab

– Thank you Charlie for letting me be your ‘second mother’. I love you. Cleo

– Dearest Charlie

Wishing you a massive happy birthday. With wonderful memories of the Thomas/Bacchus/Wales craziness and how many gorgeous girls you sweet-talked on those boozy weekends!! Such a special person. How could they resist!! So much love, the Jackson family xx

– CB … how can I put into a few short words how much you mean to us all!? You truly are one of the best!! (Shh … don’t tell Matt!!) Thank you for bringing so much light, laughter and happiness to our lives – you teach us all to live by your saying – Carpe diem – happy 40th birthday. Lots of love, Beth xX

– Charlie, O Charlie

Please please stay the samey

Lovely young man that you are.

You preside from your chair

With your lush boho hair

The wildest wheeler of London by far.

Charlie, O Charlie,

May you always remainy

This arty and farty and brilly.

May your voice stay this loud

May you never be cowed

May your path avoid being hilly.

Charlie, O Charlie

As you light the birthday flamey

May you sparkle and glitter and glow.

May your grin be this toothy

May your future be smoothy

And may you always just go with the flow.

Helen

– Happy birthday my darling Charlie. I love you my brother. You are a light in my life and the best person I know. So sad not to be with you on your day – looking forward to celebrating middle age with you. All the love in the world – Lucy xxxx

– Happy Birthday to the coolest dude.

Lots of love, Ali and Ed Xxxx

– Dearest Charlie, the man who gave me my first beer, taught me to dance at a Greek disco and will always be a brother to me. Happy birthday wonderful friend. Love, Ben R xxxxx

– Yo B.I.L Carpe Diem Forever! Loads of Love, S

– Darling Charlie

This year is Your Special Year

Your extended family is large and all here

To celebrate with champagne and beer

One who we all want to cheer

And so without further ado

Happy Birthday Charlie

We all love you

Jeanne and David

– Darling Charlie,

You are a full moon, a rising star, a ray of sunshine, a thunderstorm, an everyday force of nature.

We love you so much!

The Laughton family xxxx

– Dear Charlie,

Although during your 40-year ride through life you have encountered some nasty potholes, you always manage to greet everyone with your 150-watt smile which brightens up the lives of all of us who have the pleasure of knowing you.

Enjoy your party and sorry none of us can be with you.

With our love,

Peter and Jane

– Hello Mr Charlie Bacchus,

Happy 30th (+10) birthday! thank you so much for helping me walk through many of my fears (mostly without you even knowing). I have loved every facet of the CB psyche; the cheeky and the vulnerable, the strength and the gentleness, the kisses and the thumps, the smiles and the frowns.… Thank you for letting me have a little peek into your beautiful mind of imagination and thoughts … what a gorgeous person you are! I look forward to discovering many more!

You are such a special friend and we love you very much.

Big hug, Kate and her clan!

– Happy Birthday Charlie! Thanks for the best Man Hugs over the years. Less stubble next time please;) Laughter conquers all. Love, the Taunton family

– CB, you really are the man to be. You have taught me such a great deal and working together brings back so many happy memories. Chasing ducks on the common to chasing girls along the high street, you manage to make those close to you smile to no end. Let’s celebrate your forty fabulous years in classic CB-style … rum and coke? Love your pal, Charlie x

– To the one closest to being my older brother,

You’re a shining star in my life, and someone I can always depend upon for a kiss, a hug and a smile.

Not everyone can pull off being 40 with such eloquence and grace, but you’re doing an amazing job. May you continue to be an inspiration to all around you.

Love you Charlie boy xxx

Anna

– Charlie – You are a courageous – inspirational – and amazingly positive son – you have brought so many fabulous people and much love into our family – and we are so proud of you – never forget how loved you are – love you forever – Mum and Dad – Carpe Diem

– Dearest Charlie, you have a special place in my heart and always will have. We all send you so much love on this important birthday, from Zoe and family

Xxxx

– Hey cous, I want you to know that I love you loads. You are a big part of my life. I always look forward to hanging out with you – if it’s tearing around South London keeping everyone on their toes, staying in to play chess or watch a film, and sitting in the garden. I can’t wait for the next adventure. Love, Ralph

– Charlie. Your charisma and charm always brings the best out of people and you have taught me a lot over the years. You are an important friend and although you are reaching old age now there is more vibrancy and youth in you than anyone else I know. Stay awesome! Ben

– Happy Happy Birthday Charlie!! I hope you have the best time celebrating with all your friends and family! I’m very much looking forward to future walks on the common & lots of cafe trips! Lots of love from Sally(PA) Xx

– Dear Charlie,

Happy 40th Birthday!!!

Can’t believe it is 25 years since you were cajoled into taking your older sister’s friend to the sixth-form party. You are and always have been so handsome and such a gent. We had such a nice time, and so many fun times since then. There’s been some hilarious moments.

Sending you, lots and lots of love from Laura and Dan x x

– Charlie,

I don’t think I fully appreciated the impact it would have when I left London,

I’m not talking about the impact it would have on you, I am talking of the impact it would have on me.

When I first met you I don’t think either of us realised the journey we were about to embark on,

The friendship we were about to find, or the memories of laughter and love that we were about to share,

I think they are the best moments in life, the ones that you don’t expect to happen, but enrich the soul.

When I think of London, I think of you, when I think of University, I think of you, When I think of football, talking to ladies or drinking hot chocolates (with all the whipped cream) – I think of you,

and even though we aren’t together, that we can’t see each other daily, I know that you are never far away.

I know that even though physically, I have left London, we will forever keep a piece of each other in our thoughts and in our lives because that’s what true friendship is,

realising that friendship isn’t a physical measure, something you can weigh or sell, but something that warms you to your core because of the way it has affected your life.

In life, people chase all sorts of things, perhaps we chase things because at the time we perceive them as needs, I don’t know.

I do know however, that as time moves on, your perception on these things change too,

When I came to see you each week, I realised that the wants that I had been perceiving as needs sometimes became distorted,

I didn’t need to be stressing over exams, I didn’t need to be stressing over social media, I didn’t need to be stressing over girlfriends,

you had an amazing way of keeping calm, keeping cool, letting lifes worries lift you up instead of drag you down and that my friend,

is one of the most incredible things to be around, your smile, your humour and your devilish personality make you … enriching to be around.

You my friend, you enrich my soul. Never lose that.

Miss you buddy, the brother from the other mother. All my love,

Robin

– A funny little memory of Charlie that has always stuck in my mind…

Tea-time after school at the Bacchus’s.

When Hannah cooked us spaghetti she would test if it was cooked by throwing it on to the wall – if it stuck it was ready. One day she threw it too high and it stuck to the ceiling so Charlie, always the show off, climbed up like a monkey onto a chair balanced on the kitchen table to get the piece of spaghetti down with Hannah shouting at him to get down. Charlie grabbed the spaghetti and then jumped from the table on to the kitchen counter and ran round the kitchen with Hannah chasing him. I remember being in fits of giggles and got a little talking to from Hannah that ‘laughing at a show-off only encourages them’. But that’s why we all love Charlie so much, isn’t it? Such a show-off but always so funny and charming with it. Love you my brother from another mother and father x Clare

– Rap to Charlie:

Hello my good friend Charlie

Now bro don’t you blame me

‘Cos I missed your special birthday

Travelling in the US of A

We go back a long long way

Thru’ happy and some difficult days

You played your cards as they lay

Always showing courage and humour yea!

Here’s to you bro!!

From Geoff a.k.a. Jeffrey Xx

– Happy birthday, Charlie, and very many congratulations on completing your book! You (and your whole family) have dealt with adversity so very well, and my whole team loved and admired you.

Mike

– Charlie, my dear friend.

It’s the big 4–0 and I bet you’d say age is just a number and you’d be right.

But this milestone feels like it’s high time to let you know just how important you are to me, to all of us.

You are an inspiration.

To me, to my little son and to everyone who meets you. Your energy, your humour, your zest for life and love for people is astounding.

I am so proud to be know you, to call you one of my best friends.

Thank you for truly enriching my life with your beautiful spirit.

You are so loved. Catlain xxx

– So very sorry to be missing your big 40 we will raise a glass to you. You are having an incredible and challenging journey in life which you cope with in your family. Your bravery and strength always impressed me and we are proud of you. I have so many fond memories of you as a boy with your football in tow and your wonderful paintings and sketches. Happy birthday day big man; loves you lots. Devon family. XX

– Happy childhood memories, The Bacchus’s, and friends.… Scottish Island holiday in the sunshine, freedom on the beautiful beaches and in the sea. All kids together, magical times

Wales and The Bacchus cottage across the valley, beautiful places, wonderful friends, endless weekends and parties, talks, walks and fun with close friends. Crazy times, peaceful times. Growing up together. Happy memories always xx

– Footballing, Artistic Charlie. Talented boy! Gorgeous Charlie, so good looking. Special, Brave, generous Charlie who has always been loving and been loved. Charlie with the biggest heart.

Huge hugs and Happy Happy Birthday with all my love Rachel xxxxxxxx

– Charlie, master of all trades, jack of none. Here’s to you and all the good times you bring, your friend,

Max

– Charlie, you’re without a doubt the ‘Silverest’ Silver Tongue Cavalier we know! We love you dearly my friend! Barney, Jack and Tim xx

– Dear Charlie,

I wish you all the best for your 40th celebration.

Since we first met in 1995 many things have happened in your life.

I am deeply impressed by you attitude and spirit, and can only wish you the very best for the future.

Your godfather and friend Jacob

– Message from Layla

To my darling Bro. Look at how many special people you have in your life? You have filled their life with inspiration, laughter, craziness and love. I am so incredibly proud of who you are. You are a beautiful, wise, gentle and loving brother to me and an incredibly special uncle to your niece and nephew. I treasure with every cell in my body the wonderful adventures we had together when we were growing up. The amazing holidays in beautiful places and such happy happy times in Wales with family and friends. The wild teenage party days and the years that have whizzed by so fast since … somehow now decades long! Some days have been really hard, but whatever has happened in our lives, you and I can always make each other laugh and have a strength in our love for each other and our beautiful brother Matt. How lucky we have been darling Bro, to have had a mum and dad who have unconditionally loved us and to have friends and family who have touched our hearts so profoundly. I am always going to be here for you darling Bro. I love you more than the moon. Love Layla