Charlie Cameron Michael Reed (12 May 2003 - 30 Sep 2019)

In loving memory of Charlie Cameron Michael Reed who sadly passed away on 30th September 2019

Charlie was known for his passion and talent for music. He was known for making people laugh, playing practical jokes, and especially for his big heart.

Charlie enjoyed mountain biking over at the glen and Hadleigh bike track. Antiques and rare coins.
He was intelligent, and managed to light the room whenever he walked in.

I don’t think Charlie realised how loved he was. But he was.

He was loved by everyone and looked up to by his little brother Teddy.
He will be missed by everyone. He was my best friend and I grew even closer to him over the past 2 years whilst he was battling this rare leukaemia. I have never in my life known anyone to be as strong and as brave as Charlie. He amazed everyone including all the doctors for his efforts and positivity to carry on and fight.

No more needles, no more blood products, no more picc lines, no more toxicity being pumped into your battered body, no more pain, no more suffering.

Charlie missed out on living the past 2 years of his life. Missed out on friends, exams, proms, becoming a college student. His dream was to go to a music college in Brighton. To swim with sharks, to have his music heard.

I promise I will continue to make your music live on. I promise I will keep fighting for you. I promise I will make you proud. Just promise to watch over your little brother and continue to drum as loud as you can for all to hear! Looking forward to the next thunder storm. Drum on my darling.
Sleep tight my angel. I miss and love you so much. And you make me so proud, every day.

Let me tell you a little story about Charlie, the fantastic drummer..
It all began when he was a year old. We bought him a toy bongo for his 1st birthday and he started to tap it in amazement that this sound came out of this thing.
He continued with pots and pans, wooden spoons whilst I was busy cooking...
Charlies time came to start school, and he didn’t have it easy. He was excluded for a day in reception year for retaliating to 2 boys who would torment him. He was told he had ‘anger issues’ and although this episode was through no fault of his own, he was to attend ‘volcano in my tummy’ to learn how to walk away from these situations and not to retaliate.
From this instance on, Charlie became an easy target. Wherever we would go, Charlie would find the need to drum his hands on tables, his chest, the back of seats in an auditorium...
At the age of 6, I decided to take him for a drum lesson. I handed him his 1st set of drum sticks. After one 30mim lesson, his drum teacher was amazed. Charlie managed to read the music and had gotten through a couple of pages in the music book within the first lesson. The guy before had been attending for yrs and only just made it through half a page in 30 mins. He said “you either got it, or you don’t... and Charlies got it”.
I decided to purchase Charlies 1st drum kit. Every day after school Charlie would run up to his room, and smash out 20 mins on his drums.!That was all that was needed.
Charlie continued to put every single emotion he ever felt into his drumming. The bullying continued and followed him to senior school. As the abuse Hit him harder, Charlie would hit those drums harder.
Charlie still continued to get up, go to school regardless of the comments, the lack of friends, the cyber bullying, his self harm... he would just smash the next emotion out on his double kick pedal and would then write about his emotions. He turned these into songs.
This is what made Charlie the most passionate drummer in the world. Every high hat, every tom 1, tom 2, snare which that kid would hit meant something to him. I’m hoping he was imagining the faces of many who made his life a misery throughout his school years..
Cos he smashed it with every god damn hit! And yes, he won. He won the hearts of so many, he won because it’s his name that will be remembered for many many years to come. His music will live on.
I hope his music reaches out to all of those who have been effected by bullying, and encourages them to speak out. Get the help and support that they need. Charlie should never have had to experience cancer. Especially at the age he was. He was taken far too soon. I will continue to post his videos. I will continue to fight for him. My son, the legend. My Charlie Reed xx