Charlie Grieves-Cook: Picture Poetry, He Said It All
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CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK<br />
PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK<br />
PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Edited by Jake and Dan
This E-book was published privately in June 2018 in memory of <strong>Charlie</strong> <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong>.<br />
<strong>It</strong> is not for sale commercially and is intended to be a memento for family and friends.<br />
As the photographer, <strong>Charlie</strong> <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong> had the copyright to all the photographs<br />
featured in this book and many were used in the advertising and marketing campaigns of a number<br />
of leading companies and organisations which retain their rights to the images.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was commissioned by nearly all of Kenya’s top corporations and organizations, including Safaricom,<br />
East African Breweries, Kenya Airways, Kenya Commercial Bank, Kenya Power, The Coca Cola Company, Toyota, Reckit Benkiser,<br />
Bamburi Cement, UAP Insurance, Serena Hotels, Sarova Hotels, <strong>He</strong>ritage Hotels and Gamewatchers Safaris amongst many.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> also took the time to help many organizations and charities that needed his skills on a pro bono basis,<br />
such as the KSPCA whom he helped on several occasions or the Kenya Handwashing Day movement<br />
dedicated to reducing the spread of infections amongst Kenya’s youngest citizens.<br />
<strong>All</strong> rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, including<br />
publication of any of the images, without the prior permission of the editors and<br />
executors of the estate of Charles R. <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong>.<br />
Image Production and Typesetting by Matt Swann Creative Limited<br />
Edited by Dan Prior and Jake <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong><br />
Comments or enquiries to J R <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong>, jakegc@supanet.com<br />
4
CONTENTS<br />
INTRODUCTION 7<br />
LANDSCAPES 8<br />
PEOPLE 52<br />
ARCHITECTURE 112<br />
CREATURES 140<br />
FASHION 168<br />
STILL LIFE 182<br />
FOOD 190<br />
CHARLIE AT WORK 200<br />
TRIBUTES 211
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> at work on a photoshoot<br />
6
INTRODUCTION<br />
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK, son, brother, uncle, great friend,<br />
true gentleman and one of Kenya’s finest photographers,<br />
lost his life on the 3rd of March 2012, at the age of 36.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> had already become one of Kenya’s leading<br />
professional photographers. His colleagues concur that<br />
he had a remarkable gift with light, colour and composition<br />
and his iconic images which appeared in numerous<br />
publications undoubtedly helped to promote Kenya as a<br />
tourist destination.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> literally lived and breathed images; his eye always<br />
searching for the next beautiful shot whilst his personality<br />
remained unfalteringly warm and sociable. To those who<br />
worked with him, <strong>Charlie</strong> was a joy and an inspiration. <strong>He</strong><br />
was always ready to share his knowledge with young<br />
Kenyans interested in a career in photography and to give<br />
them encouragement.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s grandparents came to Africa from Britain in 1948,<br />
and his father, Jake, has been involved in tourism and wildlife<br />
conservation in Kenya since 1972. Born in Nairobi on 19th<br />
March 1975 to Jake and Shân <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong>, <strong>Charlie</strong> spent<br />
his early childhood growing up in Kenya with his younger<br />
sister Robyn and then was educated in England. <strong>He</strong> began<br />
his professional career as a Chef in the South of France and<br />
returned to Kenya as Group Chef for <strong>He</strong>ritage Hotels before<br />
joining his father at Gamewatchers Safaris.<br />
In <strong>Charlie</strong>’s own words: “I left school and trained as a chef<br />
working in 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants in London before<br />
working as a Chef in France. Returning home to Kenya in<br />
1998, I started shooting anything I could, using slide films<br />
on 35mm and mostly medium format cameras. I developed<br />
a love for ‘travel style photography’, particularly the African<br />
Landscape, and the fascinating people living here in East<br />
Africa. Photographic expeditions on foot, carrying luggage<br />
either by camel or donkey have allowed me to access areas<br />
of immense natural beauty. I left the kitchen for a greater<br />
passion and made a career out of photography. I started out<br />
shooting for the hospitality industry here in East Africa (hotels,<br />
luxury tented camps and game lodges) and working on any<br />
commissions I could get doing travel style work”.<br />
Outside of his work, <strong>Charlie</strong> loved the outdoors, going frequently<br />
on expeditions to wild and remote places in Africa and most<br />
recently in South America. <strong>He</strong> had a passion for fly-fishing and<br />
had fished all the highland trout streams of Kenya. His love for<br />
Kenya was so apparent and this is captured in his extensive<br />
portfolio of Kenyan landscapes and scenes from daily life.<br />
Through his photographs, and more recently through his movie<br />
commercials he had the ability to project daily life in East<br />
Africa in an appealing way, not only showing the magnificent<br />
landscapes and wildlife but also presenting the peoples of East<br />
Africa, from all walks of life, in a positive, joyful and dignified<br />
way. His images will serve as an enduring memorial.<br />
7
LANDSCAPES
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
10
LANDSCAPES<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> had a love of the outdoors and trekking<br />
through landscapes in many parts of the world.<br />
This fascination with the outdoors translated into<br />
his imagery, with <strong>Charlie</strong> always going the extra<br />
mile to get the shot. His iconic imagery included<br />
his unusual and striking angle of Mt. Kenya, that<br />
was printed millions of times on the scratch cards<br />
of Safaricom, one of Kenya’s leading mobile<br />
network operators.<br />
11
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
This page: Lake Magadi with Shompole in the background, Page 10: Mount Kenya<br />
12
LANDSCAPES<br />
13
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Tea plantation<br />
14
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Sand sea dunes, augue Suguta repudiandae Valleysuscipiantur,<br />
sea te utinam postea.<br />
15
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Tsavo East National Park<br />
16
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Bogoria repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
17
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Dhow races, Lamu<br />
18
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Safari sunset repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
19
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
The highlands<br />
20
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
21
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Sand dunes in Suguta Valley<br />
22
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
23
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Flamingoes, Lake Bogoria<br />
24
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Mount repudiandae Kenya suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
25
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Tsavo East National Park<br />
26
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Bogoria repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
27
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Ol Donyo Lengai<br />
28
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lamu augue dhow repudiandae races suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
29
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Stream in the Aberdare National Park<br />
30
LANDSCAPES<br />
Aruba Rock Has ex in esse the Suguta mucius Valley deterruisset, - the remains eu sea of augue a volcanic repudiandae plug, the suscipiantur, crater rim having sea te long utinam since postea. eroded away<br />
31
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
32
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
33
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lake Logipi<br />
34
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
35
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
36
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Magadi repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
37
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
38
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
39
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
40
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
41
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Mara sunset<br />
42
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Mount augue Longonot repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
43
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Malindi, Vasco da Gama pillar<br />
44
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Magadi repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
45
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
46
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
47
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
48
LANDSCAPES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Mount augue Ololokwe repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
49
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lake Naivasha<br />
50
LANDSCAPES<br />
51
PEOPLE
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
54
PEOPLE<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was a genuine “people person”. <strong>He</strong> was<br />
fascinated by the traditional and nomadic peoples<br />
of East Africa, spending a great deal of his time<br />
on ‘walkabout’ with tribes along Kenya’s northern<br />
borders into Ethiopia and with the Maasai in his<br />
home country. <strong>He</strong> was also equally interested in the<br />
working people of Kenya: fishmongers, taxi drivers,<br />
carpenters, the “mama mbogas” and the daily lives<br />
of the ordinary wananchi were celebrated in both<br />
commercial campaigns and in personal vignettes in<br />
pictures from his unique perspective.<br />
55
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
This Page: Maasai family near Magadi, Page 54: Speeding cyclist, Page 52/53: Ethiopia<br />
56
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Barefoot augue repudiandae sports suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
57
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
58
PEOPLE<br />
Maasai ceremony<br />
59
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lamu regatta<br />
60
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Spectators sea augue at repudiandae the regatta suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
61
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Regatta scenes, Lamu<br />
62
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
63
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Swahili artefacts, Lamu<br />
64
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Workshop augue repudiandae scene suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
65
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Maasai grandmother and grandchild<br />
66
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Samburu augue silhouette repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
67
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Young and old<br />
68
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
69
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Stop or go?<br />
70
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Kilimanjaro repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
71
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lamu scene<br />
72
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
73
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Casting the net, Lake Victoria<br />
74
PEOPLE<br />
Horse riding near Mount Kenya<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
75
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Near Lake Turkana<br />
76
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Joie de eu vivre sea augue on an Indian repudiandae Ocean suscipiantur, beach sea te utinam postea.<br />
77
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Kenyan runners, junior and senior<br />
78
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lewa augue Marathon repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
79
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Rural life<br />
80
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
81
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
82
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
83
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Wildlife rangers<br />
84
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea A Samburu augue repudiandae welcome suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
85
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
86
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
87
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Maasai ceremony, facing Kilimanjaro<br />
88
PEOPLE<br />
89
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Ox-drawn transport near Lake Victoria<br />
90
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Musical repudiandae trio suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
91
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Craftsman<br />
92
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Traditions augue repudiandae continue suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
93
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
94
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue <strong>He</strong>nna repudiandae artist suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
95
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
96
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
97
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Engineer<br />
98
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea At augue the fishmongers repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
99
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Ambach canoe, Lake Baringo<br />
100
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
101
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
At the ferry<br />
102
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
103
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Gabra family moving home<br />
104
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, The eu sea day’s augue catch, repudiandae Lake Victoria suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
105
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
106
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Anti-poaching augue repudiandae team suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
107
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Cyclist and Marabou, Lake Victoria<br />
108
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Steering sea augue the repudiandae boat, Lamu suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
109
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Ethiopia<br />
110
PEOPLE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Scenes sea augue from Rusinga repudiandae islandsuscipiantur,<br />
sea te utinam postea.<br />
111
ARCHITECTURE
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
114
ARCHITECTURE<br />
With a special ability to bring to life the inanimate<br />
through his pictures, an important part of <strong>Charlie</strong>’s work<br />
was photographing homes, lodges, infrastructure and<br />
architecture throughout East Africa. <strong>Charlie</strong>’s pictures<br />
of Kenyan hotels and other elements of Kenya’s tourist<br />
industry adorning coffee table books and featured in<br />
magazines, undoubtedly played an important role in<br />
promoting Kenya to the outside world.<br />
115
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
This Page: Mombasa island, Page 114: Turkwell Dam<br />
116
ARCHITECTURE<br />
117
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
118
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Old augue town, Mombasa repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
119
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
120
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nairobi augue repudiandae at night suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
121
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Rusinga jetty<br />
122
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, The eu Holy sea Ghost augue Cathedral, repudiandae Mombasa suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
123
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Chui Lodge, near Lake Naivasha<br />
124
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nairobi augue after repudiandae dark suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
125
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
126
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
127
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
The new Nyali Bridge, Mombasa<br />
128
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lamu augue waterfront repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
129
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
130
ARCHITECTURE<br />
131
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
132
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
133
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
134
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Zanzibar repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
135
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Nairobi panorama<br />
136
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
137
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lamu<br />
138
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
139
CREATURES
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
142
CREATURES<br />
From house cats and tame gazelles, pro bono<br />
jobs for the KSPCA to lying under the safari<br />
vehicle to get the right angle of the elephants,<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was always passionate and committed to<br />
capturing images of wildlife and other creatures.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s love of nature extended to fly fishing,<br />
which saw him travel to South America to fish<br />
for trout, which he described as a ‘noble’ fish.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s photography was used to assist Kenya’s<br />
conservation efforts on many occasions.<br />
143
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
This Page: Common zebra, Page 142: Chameleon<br />
144
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Wildebeest eu sea augue on the repudiandae Ol Kinyei plains suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
145
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Ostrich<br />
146
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nomadic augue repudiandae lions suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
147
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Elephant family<br />
148
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Chimpanzee eu sea augue sanctuary repudiandae in Ol Pejeta suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
149
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Wildebeest at sunrise<br />
150
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea KSPCA augue rescue repudiandae kitten suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
151
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Lurking lion<br />
152
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Camel repudiandae herd suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
153
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Nest in Lake Turkana<br />
154
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
155
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
Topi at sunset<br />
156
CREATURES<br />
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Giant tortoise repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.<br />
157
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
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CREATURES<br />
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Wildebeest on the move<br />
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CREATURES<br />
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Tracking black rhino<br />
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CREATURES<br />
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Gazelles in the mist<br />
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CREATURES<br />
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CREATURES<br />
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FASHION
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FASHION<br />
A perfectionist as a chef and then as a photographer,<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> tried hard to perfect a photographic aesthetic<br />
with his fashion photography. Always keen to keep the<br />
authentic reality of Kenya in the settings of his fashion<br />
work, whether using a backdrop of historic buildings<br />
in Lamu or the wild landscapes of Maasailand as the<br />
canvas upon which to place his subjects. Throughout<br />
his career, all of the prominent fashion publications and<br />
design houses in East Africa commissioned imagery<br />
from <strong>Charlie</strong>.<br />
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FASHION<br />
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FASHION<br />
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FASHION<br />
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FASHION<br />
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FASHION<br />
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STILL LIFE
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STILL LIFE<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> would spend hours tinkering with a<br />
small piece of white reflector panels to get the<br />
highlights in a bottle perfectly formed. <strong>He</strong> was as<br />
skilful in getting the best imagery out of products<br />
and objects as he was with capturing people’s<br />
emotions. <strong>He</strong> was engrossed with the idea of<br />
making stationary and lifeless subjects resonate<br />
in his imagery and developed a talent in making<br />
something remarkable out of the mundane.<br />
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STILL LIFE<br />
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STILL LIFE<br />
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FOOD
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FOOD<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s first profession was as a high level chef,<br />
working in some of the world’s top restaurants in<br />
London and in the French countryside. Unusually,<br />
it was <strong>Charlie</strong>’s love of cooking that gave him a<br />
path into photography as he began honing his<br />
photographic skills by taking many hundreds of<br />
images of dishes prepared in the restaurants he<br />
worked in. <strong>Charlie</strong>’s passion for food photography<br />
was never forgotten and even as his photographic<br />
career matured and blossomed, he still spent a<br />
considerable amount of his time shooting food.<br />
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FOOD<br />
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FOOD<br />
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FOOD<br />
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CHARLIE AT WORK
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CHARLIE AT WORK<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was a consummate professional who was held in the<br />
highest regard and known to be a gentleman, even in the often<br />
stressful and high pressure working conditions associated<br />
with the advertising world. Many of his colleagues remark<br />
to this day about how working with <strong>Charlie</strong> was always fun.<br />
<strong>He</strong> was always genuine, good-natured and a pleasure to<br />
work with while still ensuring the highest standards in his<br />
work both in terms of creativity and execution. Even when<br />
he was leading a project as the photographer or Director of<br />
Photography, <strong>Charlie</strong> would always take his time to greet<br />
and thank every member of his production team, a trait that<br />
earned <strong>Charlie</strong> the admiration and love of those whom he<br />
mentored and collaborated with.<br />
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CHARLIE AT WORK<br />
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CHARLIE AT WORK<br />
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CHARLIE AT WORK<br />
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TRIBUTES<br />
A few of the hundreds of tributes received from work colleagues, schoolmates, friends and those who knew <strong>Charlie</strong>.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was my best and closest friend. <strong>He</strong> was an incredibly<br />
loyal person, always there for me through thick and thin. Without<br />
doubt the most reliable and genuine man I have ever met. A<br />
classicly dry sense of humour that had me in fits of laughter<br />
often, his hearty laugh is actually ringing in my ears as I write<br />
this. <strong>He</strong> was a true gentleman who would have done anything<br />
for anyone whatever the time of day or night and it would never<br />
be too much trouble.<br />
I first met <strong>Charlie</strong> 20 years ago but it was really over the past<br />
12 years that he and I became very close. We shared uncountable<br />
fun adventures and good times. Away from photography his true<br />
passion was fly fishing and there are very few places in Kenya that<br />
we had not fished together. We spent hours and hours stalking<br />
trout on the crystal clear streams, tarns, dams and lakes of the<br />
Aberdares, Kericho and Mount Kenya. There was always light<br />
competitiveness but it was more about enjoying the surroundings,<br />
catching some fish and a cold White Cap with some smoked<br />
trout and copious amounts of pili pili fresh at the end of the day. I<br />
feel so honoured and privileged to have been able to experience<br />
Chile with him just a few weeks before his life ended. A trip that<br />
will remain in my mind for the rest of my life. We had the most<br />
fantastic time. <strong>It</strong> was something we had talked about for years.<br />
We fished all day every day for 10 days and I had never seen<br />
him so happy. <strong>He</strong> was truly in his element. I will always miss my<br />
favourite fishing partner greatly.<br />
Andrew Campbell<br />
I’d hear more from <strong>Charlie</strong> when he was out of Nairobi than when<br />
he was here. <strong>He</strong>’d always call for no other reason than to say Hi.<br />
And he’d always end the conversation with “Sorry mate gotta go,<br />
I’m just hanging out of a helicopter”. Or “I’m waist-deep pulling<br />
trout out of a river under Mt. Kenya”. Or “The sky here is amazing,<br />
let me shoot you some clouds for that Serena job”. CGC and I<br />
were always competing with each other. And we talked about<br />
it and enjoyed it. Coz we were both trying to progress our craft<br />
together – art direction and photography. <strong>He</strong>’d listen to me while<br />
he was adjusting a light and then say, “Shut up, this is how we’re<br />
doing it!” And I’d listen to him and invariably he’d be right. Our<br />
creative relationship was very tight and real and easy.<br />
Jason Bruckner, Creative Director, McCann Erickson<br />
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<strong>Charlie</strong> was one of the best people to work under and a great<br />
mentor. Lessons from him were about perfection, speed and fun<br />
while working on all projects. <strong>He</strong> taught me to appreciate the people<br />
around us and treat them well – that way we would end up getting<br />
the best out of everyone. As a friend CGC was a very loving pal<br />
and his actions proved it all. <strong>He</strong> was caring and funny and all the<br />
moments spent with him were full of laughter and joy. If there were<br />
any issues he would ensure we sorted them all out before the day<br />
ended. <strong>Charlie</strong>, I will miss all the road trips and travel, singing out<br />
loud to all the funny music and the sunrise and sunset talks about<br />
everything going on in our lives in all the beautiful places we shot.<br />
Your work lives on every time we switch on the TV, look at a picture<br />
on a billboard or magazine. Your love will always be in my heart, I<br />
will never forget you for you were a true BFF.<br />
Lilian Maina, Producer, Eye Queue Ltd<br />
What I remember most fondly about <strong>Charlie</strong> was his zeal for life.<br />
Each day at work, <strong>Charlie</strong> brought in the energy of two people. <strong>He</strong><br />
was energetic, positive, eager and happy with his life. <strong>He</strong> never<br />
let anything pull him down and was very appreciative to everyone<br />
that worked with and for him. You would always catch <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
saying “good job” every other minute to his team. This energy and<br />
love for his job reflected on how he handled challenges that came<br />
up every day at work and even in his everyday life. <strong>He</strong> put his<br />
brains and creativity into action and got solutions to every problem.<br />
That shot that couldn’t be done, bring <strong>Charlie</strong>’s box of tricks and<br />
there is something in there to fix it and get the perfect shot. This<br />
even applied to solving the issues at work. <strong>Charlie</strong> fixed it all<br />
and kept everyone happy. I must say, this is the biggest lesson I<br />
have chosen to take from knowing <strong>Charlie</strong>, every problem has a<br />
solution. “Don’t give up.” I was honoured to know <strong>Charlie</strong> and to<br />
work with him so closely. <strong>He</strong> was a force by himself. <strong>He</strong> gave me<br />
a chance, in fact, many chances. His impact on my life cannot be<br />
put into words. <strong>He</strong> is deeply missed every day. I know he lives in<br />
the hearts of so many people whose lives he touched.<br />
Makena Mutwiri, Personal Assistant to <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was a great man, colleague, mentor, friend and a man<br />
full of life. I met <strong>Charlie</strong> about 2 years ago, but our friendship<br />
grew closer a few months later when he first noticed my<br />
talent during a photoshoot in Amboseli. With his usual smile,<br />
I remember him asking me “Where have you been hiding,<br />
Judy?” From that day, I can’t remember ever being out on<br />
location without <strong>Charlie</strong> by my side always encouraging and<br />
advising me where he thought I could do better. <strong>He</strong> made me<br />
part of a great team and we became like family. . . . I will never<br />
forget the Japanese restaurant and you chasing a goat all<br />
over the place to take pictures . . . great memories and some<br />
of the best moments of my life. <strong>Charlie</strong> was a good protector;<br />
he always protected the team and made sure none of us was<br />
unfairly ‘bullied’ on set. Though you are gone, <strong>Charlie</strong>, I will<br />
never forget you. I feel your presence all around the studio,<br />
taking big steps around asking everyone if they were OK. I will<br />
never forget those words. Then you would walk to your corner<br />
and start cleaning your camera and making sure all your stuff<br />
was nice and tidy! I miss you, <strong>Charlie</strong>, and I will love you for<br />
always. Watch over the team.<br />
Judy Maranga, Makeup Artist, Eye Queue Ltd<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s first experience of photography, was when as a boy,<br />
he opened up the back of his father’s camera and accidently<br />
exposed the holiday pictures! His love for food and love for<br />
cooking is really what led <strong>Charlie</strong> to become a photographer.<br />
<strong>He</strong> started by photographing the food he was creating so<br />
he could use the pictures for training purposes. Up until his<br />
death, photographing food was still a great passion of <strong>Charlie</strong>’s<br />
that really brought together two aspects of his expertise. His<br />
interest in photography led him into documenting long walking<br />
expeditions he would go on with his good friend Toby Fenwick-<br />
Wilson. <strong>Charlie</strong>’s amateur photography very quickly blossomed<br />
into a fully professional career. In the five years that <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
worked as a professional photographer, he became not only<br />
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TRIBUTES<br />
one of Kenya’s best and most-loved photographers, but also a<br />
truly world-class professional. I first met <strong>Charlie</strong> in 2008. <strong>It</strong> was<br />
our first shoot together and he was immediately bouncing off<br />
the walls, extremely eager. I initially thought it was because this<br />
was his first shoot with us. But later I realized he approached<br />
each job with the same unwavering eagerness and enthusiasm.<br />
Two years on, we got together with Simon Cox and Duncan<br />
Willetts, two photographers he not only admired but loved,<br />
and set up the first Kenyan Production company specializing<br />
in photography. In his commercial career, <strong>Charlie</strong> worked for<br />
all of Kenya’s biggest corporations. <strong>Charlie</strong> was an absolute<br />
perfectionist – he never wanted to put his name on a bad picture.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> also had a particular ability to capture Kenya at her<br />
best and many of his images will remain iconic forever. More<br />
recently <strong>Charlie</strong> had branched into the moving- image and had<br />
been working as a Director of Photography on a large number<br />
of commercial films. This came about after Justin Connolly,<br />
having worked with <strong>Charlie</strong> in stills, proposed that he work in a<br />
team with Dan Prior directing and <strong>Charlie</strong> shooting. From the<br />
very first film <strong>Charlie</strong> shot he reached a standard equal to many<br />
DOP’s with far greater experience in moving images. This team<br />
also developed into a marvelous friendship. Those of us who<br />
worked with him all know that not only was he second to none<br />
at what he did, he was an absolute joy and pleasure to work<br />
with and that’s why so many of us loved him so dearly and his<br />
death leaves such a void in his profession and in our hearts. No<br />
amount of words could capture <strong>Charlie</strong>’s heart and soul and I<br />
believe he now lives on through his pictures.<br />
Quentin Ikiki, Executive Producer, Eye Queue Ltd<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> joined Prestige Hotels in 1999 as Executive Chef with<br />
responsibility for training and he was part of the team that<br />
helped rebrand the company, which became known as <strong>He</strong>ritage<br />
Hotels of Kenya. <strong>Charlie</strong>’s approach was that he just got stuck<br />
in, hands on. If the kitchen floor or the cookers were dirty he<br />
would show the staff how to clean, and clean and clean. In fact<br />
he was called by all the kitchen staff in the group “Bwana Safi”.<br />
They really admired him. <strong>Charlie</strong> began creating Michelin star<br />
standard menus in properties located in Samburu, Mara, Great<br />
Rift Valley, Tsavo, Mombasa and Lamu. <strong>He</strong> created absolute<br />
“theatre “ in these kitchens, each plate served was a “stage” on<br />
which to place his creations. <strong>It</strong> sounds over the top but <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
was over the top. <strong>He</strong> caused chaos in the hotel industry and<br />
created a “culinary tsunami”! <strong>He</strong> created training manuals<br />
and used photography to best effect, taking images of each<br />
and every dish served from the respective kitchens. <strong>He</strong> also<br />
became involved with many other areas of the hotel and lodge<br />
operations. There was a total of 650 staff in the company, from<br />
the gardeners through to the General Manager, EVERYONE<br />
knew <strong>Charlie</strong> and really respected his work ethic.<br />
David Stogdale (a leading hotelier in Kenya)<br />
I first saw <strong>Charlie</strong>’s work in a brochure his father, Jake, had<br />
put together for his camp near Amboseli. I realised immediately<br />
that <strong>Charlie</strong> had an eye for a picture, and his execution was<br />
spot on. <strong>He</strong>re was an up and coming professional if ever I saw<br />
one. And so it was, he came along in leaps and bounds. Keen,<br />
dedicated, knowledgeable, he loved what he did with a passion<br />
I certainly shared. <strong>He</strong> also moved with the times and techniques,<br />
mastering first the stills process, then quickly moved, as so<br />
many had done before him, into the moving picture disciplines.<br />
The future was indeed very bright for him. Sadly, and why this<br />
was not meant to be, will be a weight of unexplained knowledge<br />
which we will have to bear for the rest of our lives.<br />
Duncan Willets (the doyen of Kenya’s Professional Photographers)<br />
I often think about you, how amazing you were as an individual<br />
and how much more knowledge you had to impart to me!<br />
Morris Gachago, Photography Assistant<br />
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<strong>Charlie</strong> was the perfect companion on many safaris in to the<br />
north of Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. Many of the safaris were<br />
challenging, some were long hard walks, supported by camels<br />
through difficult land, where an easy smile, extraordinary patience,<br />
and a resilient nature were essential. However, his greatest<br />
contributions on safari were his natural charm and his disarming<br />
affinity for people. This was why <strong>Charlie</strong> was so at home in Africa<br />
- language never being a barrier for such a character.<br />
Toby Fenwick-Wilson<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was an absolute pleasure to work with. <strong>He</strong> was, and<br />
certainly remains, the most dedicated and passionate professional<br />
I have ever had the privilege of working with. <strong>He</strong> taught me a<br />
great deal about my craft and showed me how to aspire towards<br />
perfection, taking pride in every single aspect. <strong>Charlie</strong> was a<br />
gentleman and a good man. <strong>He</strong> was my friend and I’ll always<br />
miss him dearly.<br />
Dan Prior, MD of Quite Bright Films<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was an extraordinary young man with enormous<br />
talent who was loved by all who knew him. <strong>He</strong> was kindhearted,<br />
exceptionally generous to all around him, modest and<br />
unassuming, with a zest and passion for life so that he lived the<br />
equivalent of a lifetime of 80 years packed into his 36 years.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> will be remembered for his immensely kind spirit, his<br />
laughter, vivacity, love for life and unquestionable dedication to<br />
his profession. <strong>Charlie</strong> literally lived and breathed images, his eye<br />
always searching for the next beautiful shot whilst his personality<br />
remained unfalteringly warm and sociable. To those who worked<br />
with him, <strong>Charlie</strong> was a joy and an inspiration. <strong>He</strong> was always<br />
ready to share his knowledge with young Kenyans interested in<br />
a career in photography and to give them encouragement. We<br />
think of you every day, <strong>Charlie</strong>, and there is a huge gap in our<br />
lives without you.<br />
Jake <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong> (<strong>Charlie</strong>’s father)<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was my best friend and as close to a brother as I could<br />
possibly have. I tried to speak to him at least once a month and<br />
every time he visited the UK I knew we were going to have the<br />
best time. <strong>He</strong> was the funniest, most generous, understanding and<br />
inspirational man I knew. Any time I needed someone to call for<br />
emotional support, despite where he was, <strong>Charlie</strong> was always first<br />
on my list and more importantly, he was always there for me and<br />
I for him. Our connection goes all the way back to Hurstpierpoint,<br />
where we discovered a shared passion for music, guitar playing and<br />
general pranking around! I never laughed so much in the presence<br />
of anyone else. Our band “The Rioters”, although atrocious, was<br />
an amazing experience we shared as teenagers as we played at<br />
being rock stars! I will cherish the memory of the many concerts we<br />
attended together, the last one being, rather fittingly, The Levellers<br />
which bookended 20 years of concert-going that started with The<br />
Levellers back in 1991. On leaving school we both decided that<br />
we wanted to travel before university and began planning what we<br />
should do. Thailand, South America and USA were all mentioned<br />
before we inevitably decided on Kenya. Along with James Coates<br />
we set off on an amazing trip that first demonstrated to me, <strong>Charlie</strong>’s<br />
amazing passion and love for the country.<br />
The thing that I admired <strong>Charlie</strong> for most of all was that, unlike<br />
so many of us, he was never afraid to follow his dreams. His<br />
determination and passion for cooking was incredible to behold<br />
and his food was always delicious. <strong>It</strong> is beyond me how someone<br />
could have so many creative talents but it came as no surprise<br />
that Kenya was where his real dreams lay. I was gutted when he<br />
decided to move back to Kenya, but I completely understood. One<br />
of the most amazing experiences of my life was our Millennium<br />
trip to Kenya also shared with Robyn. On this occasion <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
organised everything and provided us with a holiday of a lifetime<br />
and no better way to bring in the new millennium. Robyn and<br />
Dan’s wedding was a wonderful day and I know that <strong>Charlie</strong> was<br />
so proud of Robyn and as happy as I’ve ever seen him, as he was<br />
able to see her marry one of his best friends. <strong>Charlie</strong>’s photos of<br />
that day will live on forever!<br />
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<strong>It</strong>’s been a pleasure and inspiration to me to watch his<br />
photography career bloom and achieve so much in such a short<br />
time. Like many of his friends and family, we have his photos<br />
framed, signed and in prominent position all over our home; which<br />
we will cherish forever. If it wasn’t for <strong>Charlie</strong>’s brave decisions in<br />
life, I would never have had the courage to quit my own soulless<br />
job to re-train and change career.<br />
<strong>It</strong> was an honour to have him as my best man. Despite being<br />
based in Kenya, he organised a fantastic stag do for me; sea fishing<br />
in Brighton…no surprises there! Made ever more hilarious by our<br />
total lack of sea legs and hangovers from the first days celebrations!!<br />
On the day itself he offered all the emotional support I could wish<br />
for from a best man. I will never forget us running around the South<br />
of France like headless chickens trying to get things organised. <strong>He</strong><br />
was amazing, and despite being possibly more nervous than me,<br />
delivered a great speech and as usual, was the life and soul of the<br />
party. My wife, Lou, adored him. We loved him so much that we<br />
chose to share a week of our honeymoon with him! The ultimate<br />
tribute that I can make is to say that the best times of my life were<br />
shared with <strong>Charlie</strong>. I am going to miss him terribly.<br />
Toby Bloomfield<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was probably the most unique person I have ever known –<br />
he had many different segmented groups of friends – be it Friends<br />
from School, his stint at university, from cooking or photography<br />
or the massive spectrum of people that he socialized with in both<br />
UK and Kenya. Because he was so liked by all, there are literally<br />
dozens of people who called <strong>Charlie</strong> their “best friend”. <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
had an adventurous spirit and a love for the outdoors. In school<br />
holidays or weekends off we would often be found walking up<br />
a local hill or into a forest with the intention of a big adventure<br />
– unfortunately due to the fact that it seemed more important to<br />
pack a couple of bottles of cider rather than tents and sleeping<br />
bags, these adventures never lasted that long! More recently, I<br />
was lucky enough to walk up Mount Kilimanjairo with <strong>Charlie</strong> in<br />
2007. We both loved the trip so much, we decided we must plan<br />
another bigger and better adventure. Finally at the beginning of<br />
2012 we set off on my last adventure with my dear friend. We<br />
climbed up the largest mountain in South America. <strong>Charlie</strong> spent<br />
a lot of the trip charging about trying to capture the beautiful<br />
scenery on camera. We did not make it up to the top due to the<br />
extreme weather. <strong>It</strong> didn’t seem to ruin the trip by not summiting,<br />
and we had already made plans to return to the mountain in 2<br />
years time to try again. On the trip, I spent much time with <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
talking about life in general. <strong>It</strong> was apparent to me that he was<br />
really enjoying the constant challenge of his work and he was over<br />
the moon at the recent birth of baby Isla, his niece. I had not seen<br />
him this relaxed and happy in many years. In the 25 years I have<br />
known <strong>Charlie</strong>, I have been honoured to call him my best friend.<br />
I have essentially lost a brother in <strong>Charlie</strong> and I will grieve for<br />
him always. In my opinion grief is love turned into eternal missing.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> will be sorely missed and we will all love him forever.<br />
David Cox<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> and I were good friends; indeed I counted him as among<br />
my very best friends and it was he who was my immediate first<br />
choice as godfather when my eldest son, Hugo, was born. We<br />
would spend many weekends on safari in Kenya, or fishing the<br />
Mathioya, and of course the many nights in bars and restaurants<br />
around Nairobi. Apart, from ‘being the life and soul of the party’,<br />
he never failed to impress me with his array of talents. <strong>He</strong> was of<br />
course a trained chef, but his ability to plan and whip-up great food<br />
at short order in the bush was always impressive. <strong>He</strong> had a great<br />
chortle, fine wit and turn of phrase, along with a long supply of good<br />
stories (about “Croissant Duff”, inter alia) and by bringing his guitar<br />
and voice to the camp fire, he always created a magic atmosphere.<br />
<strong>He</strong> seemed to bring a sense of calm dedication to everything<br />
he did and this could be seen in watching him fish and fish and<br />
pursue the fish to the end of the river and until night would fall. I<br />
imagine he brought this pursuit of perfection to his photography and<br />
indeed I remember him on the South Coast enduring squadrons<br />
of sandflies, dive bombing him again and again as he set up the<br />
photos, to get the right shot for a hotel brochure.<br />
215
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL<br />
I was lucky enough to go on a couple of extended walks with<br />
him; one in the Mara in 2003 and the other in the Loita Hills<br />
in 2006. What stands out in my memory of these trips was his<br />
ability and willingness to interact with the Maasai. <strong>He</strong> understood,<br />
and seemed to tune into, their wavelength with remarkable<br />
sensitivity, and with genuine interest in everything around him<br />
both cultural and physical. Notwithstanding this, his ability to eat<br />
(and to enjoy) all parts of the goat no doubt endeared him like<br />
a brother to the Maasai. Above all he was a great mate and he<br />
went the extra mile for me on many an occasion. <strong>He</strong> was just<br />
so positive about things in Kenya and in his work; he loved both<br />
with a passion I envy. I miss his friendship, and his intelligence,<br />
humour and ability to observe.<br />
Giles Tremayne<br />
<strong>He</strong> did great work for us and his memory is immortalised in the<br />
photos he left for us.<br />
Michael Joseph (Founder and former Chief Executive of Safaricom)<br />
A friend like no other, I was privileged to have spent unforgettable<br />
time with <strong>Charlie</strong>. Adventures on safari from Amboseli and<br />
Tsavo to the Aberdares and Lake Baringo, and many impromptu<br />
get-togethers from Nairobi to Milan. <strong>Charlie</strong> will always be an<br />
inspiration on how to live, and his memory is cherished as much<br />
as his company is missed. I think of <strong>Charlie</strong> most days and<br />
imagine him visiting in Watamu or heading off on another safari<br />
somewhere. <strong>He</strong> really did have such an amazing energy and<br />
outlook on life, he was a wonderful friend.<br />
Nic Cahill<br />
Working with <strong>Charlie</strong> was one of the best experiences of my<br />
life. <strong>He</strong> was a perfectionist in his craft and pushed himself and<br />
those around him to do better. <strong>He</strong> was the very best kind of<br />
boss, exacting but kind - I wasn’t an employee but a collaborator<br />
in his work. With him in charge every assignment was an<br />
adventure complete with getting lost, bogged in mud, charged<br />
by elephants and harassed by crooked policemen, sometimes<br />
all in that order and in one day. <strong>Charlie</strong> had a knack for getting<br />
into situations but thankfully, he could also charm himself out<br />
of it. <strong>He</strong> had such sense of humour about life, you couldn’t help<br />
but laugh with him.<br />
<strong>He</strong> taught me so much about photography, being a good<br />
person and how to really live. I am glad to have been there to<br />
witness some of his journey and proud to have been his friend.<br />
<strong>He</strong> is one of the best people I’ve ever known.<br />
Gathoni Kinyanjui-Howard<br />
The day I met <strong>Charlie</strong> for the first time, I was 12 years old. <strong>He</strong> had<br />
a really rather large head compared to mine, or so I thought. And<br />
his tie was too long. Then he laughed. <strong>It</strong> was not loud so much<br />
as mischievous, and there was a distinct twinkle emanating from<br />
his eyes… By the end of the lesson that we had been waiting for<br />
when we met, we were firm friends and remained so forever after.<br />
As <strong>Charlie</strong>’s head got smaller (or mine grew); his laugh and<br />
lust for life got bigger and bigger. At school, he seemed to quietly<br />
gain skills and talents (and the odd moment of well-intentioned<br />
notoriety) with ease and little fuss. <strong>He</strong> was a great guitar player,<br />
naturally funny and a good cross-country runner (to the extent<br />
he turned up one day and thrashed the majority of the school<br />
cross-country team). <strong>He</strong> was a whistling, mountaineering, flyfishing,<br />
extraordinary-cooking, strange-dancing, big-laughing,<br />
warm-hugging, glory of humanity who I had the joy and honour<br />
of knowing. <strong>He</strong> was my friend and I loved him dearly.<br />
For all the laughter, madness, and many other tales and<br />
tributes in this book and further afield, perhaps the best way to<br />
try and encapsulate <strong>Charlie</strong> is in his reaction to my telling him<br />
his sister, Robyn, had agreed to marry me. <strong>He</strong> smiled and said,<br />
“Morning! How cool is that?! One of my best friends as a brotherin-law!<br />
Let’s go to the pub..”<br />
Dan Beattie (<strong>Charlie</strong>’s brother-in-law)<br />
216
TRIBUTES<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> and I did a lot of photo-shoots together in the chopper - one<br />
of them being the Safaricom shoot. Every-time I see a Safaricom<br />
banner it reminds me of the wonderful adventures we had together.<br />
<strong>He</strong> was an incredible person to work with - always so professional,<br />
calm and fun. I fly with many photographers from all over the world<br />
and <strong>Charlie</strong> was without a doubt one of the best.<br />
Jamie Roberts, Managing Director, Tropicair<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> was a very special friend to me. Our friendship started<br />
when I asked one of his colleagues from work if he was dating<br />
someone. My thought was that he would be a difficult person<br />
to date but we started going out together shortly after that and I<br />
spent a great year of my life with the kindest, funniest and loving<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>. My Charming <strong>Charlie</strong>, I called him. His memory will live<br />
with me forever. Our short-lived romance is the defining period of<br />
my life and it was such a blessing to have <strong>Charlie</strong> with me. CGC<br />
lived with such passion that I agree with a statement made to the<br />
effect that all his experiences in this life added up to what would<br />
be 80+ years of living for anyone else. I miss the crazy stories that<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> shared daily. My favourite memory remains the warmth<br />
of the Saturday morning hug, outside his apartment. His gift in<br />
photography, his passion in cooking, his love for his friends and<br />
family (especially his niece Isla!), his dedication to his team, his<br />
grateful nature, his charm and wit will forever be missed by all who<br />
loved him. I love you <strong>Charlie</strong>, for always..<br />
Diana Nekoye<br />
Diana on a photoshoot with <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
<strong>Charlie</strong>’s contribution to promoting the image of Kenya was recognised<br />
by the Kenya Government in this letter from the Minister of Tourism.
This E-book is published privately in memory of<br />
a wonderful man: Kenyan photographer <strong>Charlie</strong><br />
<strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong>. Not for sale commercially, it is<br />
intended as a memento for family and friends.<br />
<strong>Charlie</strong> <strong>Grieves</strong>-<strong>Cook</strong> had the copyright to all<br />
his photographs featured in this book and many<br />
were used in the advertising and marketing<br />
campaigns of a number of leading companies<br />
which also retain their rights to the images.