Charlie Grieves-Cook: Picture Poetry, He Said It All

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK
PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK
PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Edited by Jake and Dan

This E-book was published privately in June 2018 in memory of Charlie Grieves-Cook.
It is not for sale commercially and is intended to be a memento for family and friends.
As the photographer, Charlie Grieves-Cook had the copyright to all the photographs
featured in this book and many were used in the advertising and marketing campaigns of a number
of leading companies and organisations which retain their rights to the images.
Charlie was commissioned by nearly all of Kenya’s top corporations and organizations, including Safaricom,
East African Breweries, Kenya Airways, Kenya Commercial Bank, Kenya Power, The Coca Cola Company, Toyota, Reckit Benkiser,
Bamburi Cement, UAP Insurance, Serena Hotels, Sarova Hotels, Heritage Hotels and Gamewatchers Safaris amongst many.
Charlie also took the time to help many organizations and charities that needed his skills on a pro bono basis,
such as the KSPCA whom he helped on several occasions or the Kenya Handwashing Day movement
dedicated to reducing the spread of infections amongst Kenya’s youngest citizens.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, including
publication of any of the images, without the prior permission of the editors and
executors of the estate of Charles R. Grieves-Cook.
Image Production and Typesetting by Matt Swann Creative Limited
Edited by Dan Prior and Jake Grieves-Cook
Comments or enquiries to J R Grieves-Cook, jakegc@supanet.com
4

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 7
LANDSCAPES 8
PEOPLE 52
ARCHITECTURE 112
CREATURES 140
FASHION 168
STILL LIFE 182
FOOD 190
CHARLIE AT WORK 200
TRIBUTES 211

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Charlie at work on a photoshoot
6

INTRODUCTION
CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK, son, brother, uncle, great friend,
true gentleman and one of Kenya’s finest photographers,
lost his life on the 3rd of March 2012, at the age of 36.
Charlie had already become one of Kenya’s leading
professional photographers. His colleagues concur that
he had a remarkable gift with light, colour and composition
and his iconic images which appeared in numerous
publications undoubtedly helped to promote Kenya as a
tourist destination.
Charlie literally lived and breathed images; his eye always
searching for the next beautiful shot whilst his personality
remained unfalteringly warm and sociable. To those who
worked with him, Charlie was a joy and an inspiration. He
was always ready to share his knowledge with young
Kenyans interested in a career in photography and to give
them encouragement.
Charlie’s grandparents came to Africa from Britain in 1948,
and his father, Jake, has been involved in tourism and wildlife
conservation in Kenya since 1972. Born in Nairobi on 19th
March 1975 to Jake and Shân Grieves-Cook, Charlie spent
his early childhood growing up in Kenya with his younger
sister Robyn and then was educated in England. He began
his professional career as a Chef in the South of France and
returned to Kenya as Group Chef for Heritage Hotels before
joining his father at Gamewatchers Safaris.
In Charlie’s own words: “I left school and trained as a chef
working in 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants in London before
working as a Chef in France. Returning home to Kenya in
1998, I started shooting anything I could, using slide films
on 35mm and mostly medium format cameras. I developed
a love for ‘travel style photography’, particularly the African
Landscape, and the fascinating people living here in East
Africa. Photographic expeditions on foot, carrying luggage
either by camel or donkey have allowed me to access areas
of immense natural beauty. I left the kitchen for a greater
passion and made a career out of photography. I started out
shooting for the hospitality industry here in East Africa (hotels,
luxury tented camps and game lodges) and working on any
commissions I could get doing travel style work”.
Outside of his work, Charlie loved the outdoors, going frequently
on expeditions to wild and remote places in Africa and most
recently in South America. He had a passion for fly-fishing and
had fished all the highland trout streams of Kenya. His love for
Kenya was so apparent and this is captured in his extensive
portfolio of Kenyan landscapes and scenes from daily life.
Through his photographs, and more recently through his movie
commercials he had the ability to project daily life in East
Africa in an appealing way, not only showing the magnificent
landscapes and wildlife but also presenting the peoples of East
Africa, from all walks of life, in a positive, joyful and dignified
way. His images will serve as an enduring memorial.
7

LANDSCAPES

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
10

LANDSCAPES
Charlie had a love of the outdoors and trekking
through landscapes in many parts of the world.
This fascination with the outdoors translated into
his imagery, with Charlie always going the extra
mile to get the shot. His iconic imagery included
his unusual and striking angle of Mt. Kenya, that
was printed millions of times on the scratch cards
of Safaricom, one of Kenya’s leading mobile
network operators.
11

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
This page: Lake Magadi with Shompole in the background, Page 10: Mount Kenya
12

LANDSCAPES
13

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Tea plantation
14

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Sand sea dunes, augue Suguta repudiandae Valleysuscipiantur,
sea te utinam postea.
15

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Tsavo East National Park
16

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Bogoria repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
17

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Dhow races, Lamu
18

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Safari sunset repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
19

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
The highlands
20

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
21

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Sand dunes in Suguta Valley
22

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
23

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Flamingoes, Lake Bogoria
24

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Mount repudiandae Kenya suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
25

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Tsavo East National Park
26

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Bogoria repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
27

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Ol Donyo Lengai
28

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lamu augue dhow repudiandae races suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
29

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Stream in the Aberdare National Park
30

LANDSCAPES
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
31

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
32

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
33

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lake Logipi
34

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
35

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Magadi repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
37

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
38

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
39

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
41

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Mara sunset
42

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Mount augue Longonot repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
43

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Malindi, Vasco da Gama pillar
44

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lake Magadi repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
45

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
47

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
48

LANDSCAPES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Mount augue Ololokwe repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
49

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lake Naivasha
50

LANDSCAPES
51

PEOPLE

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
54

PEOPLE
Charlie was a genuine “people person”. He was
fascinated by the traditional and nomadic peoples
of East Africa, spending a great deal of his time
on ‘walkabout’ with tribes along Kenya’s northern
borders into Ethiopia and with the Maasai in his
home country. He was also equally interested in the
working people of Kenya: fishmongers, taxi drivers,
carpenters, the “mama mbogas” and the daily lives
of the ordinary wananchi were celebrated in both
commercial campaigns and in personal vignettes in
pictures from his unique perspective.
55

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
This Page: Maasai family near Magadi, Page 54: Speeding cyclist, Page 52/53: Ethiopia
56

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Barefoot augue repudiandae sports suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
57

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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PEOPLE
Maasai ceremony
59

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lamu regatta
60

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Spectators sea augue at repudiandae the regatta suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
61

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Regatta scenes, Lamu
62

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
63

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Swahili artefacts, Lamu
64

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Workshop augue repudiandae scene suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
65

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Maasai grandmother and grandchild
66

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Samburu augue silhouette repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
67

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Young and old
68

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
69

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Stop or go?
70

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Kilimanjaro repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
71

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lamu scene
72

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
73

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Casting the net, Lake Victoria
74

PEOPLE
Horse riding near Mount Kenya
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
75

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Near Lake Turkana
76

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Joie de eu vivre sea augue on an Indian repudiandae Ocean suscipiantur, beach sea te utinam postea.
77

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Kenyan runners, junior and senior
78

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lewa augue Marathon repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
79

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Rural life
80

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
81

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
82

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
83

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Wildlife rangers
84

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea A Samburu augue repudiandae welcome suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
85

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
86

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
87

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Maasai ceremony, facing Kilimanjaro
88

PEOPLE
89

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Ox-drawn transport near Lake Victoria
90

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Musical repudiandae trio suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
91

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Craftsman
92

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Traditions augue repudiandae continue suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
93

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Henna repudiandae artist suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
95

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
96

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
97

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Engineer
98

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea At augue the fishmongers repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
99

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Ambach canoe, Lake Baringo
100

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
101

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
At the ferry
102

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
103

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Gabra family moving home
104

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, The eu sea day’s augue catch, repudiandae Lake Victoria suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
105

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
106

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Anti-poaching augue repudiandae team suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
107

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Cyclist and Marabou, Lake Victoria
108

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Steering sea augue the repudiandae boat, Lamu suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
109

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Ethiopia
110

PEOPLE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu Scenes sea augue from Rusinga repudiandae islandsuscipiantur,
sea te utinam postea.
111

ARCHITECTURE

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
114

ARCHITECTURE
With a special ability to bring to life the inanimate
through his pictures, an important part of Charlie’s work
was photographing homes, lodges, infrastructure and
architecture throughout East Africa. Charlie’s pictures
of Kenyan hotels and other elements of Kenya’s tourist
industry adorning coffee table books and featured in
magazines, undoubtedly played an important role in
promoting Kenya to the outside world.
115

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
This Page: Mombasa island, Page 114: Turkwell Dam
116

ARCHITECTURE
117

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
118

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Old augue town, Mombasa repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
119

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
120

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nairobi augue repudiandae at night suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
121

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Rusinga jetty
122

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, The eu Holy sea Ghost augue Cathedral, repudiandae Mombasa suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
123

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Chui Lodge, near Lake Naivasha
124

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nairobi augue after repudiandae dark suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
125

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
126

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
127

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
The new Nyali Bridge, Mombasa
128

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Lamu augue waterfront repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
129

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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ARCHITECTURE
131

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
132

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
133

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
134

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Zanzibar repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
135

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Nairobi panorama
136

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
137

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lamu
138

ARCHITECTURE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
139

CREATURES

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
142

CREATURES
From house cats and tame gazelles, pro bono
jobs for the KSPCA to lying under the safari
vehicle to get the right angle of the elephants,
Charlie was always passionate and committed to
capturing images of wildlife and other creatures.
Charlie’s love of nature extended to fly fishing,
which saw him travel to South America to fish
for trout, which he described as a ‘noble’ fish.
Charlie’s photography was used to assist Kenya’s
conservation efforts on many occasions.
143

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
This Page: Common zebra, Page 142: Chameleon
144

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Wildebeest eu sea augue on the repudiandae Ol Kinyei plains suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
145

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Ostrich
146

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea Nomadic augue repudiandae lions suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
147

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Elephant family
148

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, Chimpanzee eu sea augue sanctuary repudiandae in Ol Pejeta suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
149

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Wildebeest at sunrise
150

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea KSPCA augue rescue repudiandae kitten suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
151

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Lurking lion
152

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Camel repudiandae herd suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
153

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Nest in Lake Turkana
154

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
155

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Topi at sunset
156

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Giant tortoise repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
157

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
158

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Hyena repudiandae pup suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
159

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Wildebeest on the move
160

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Lamu repudiandae kitten suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
161

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Tracking black rhino
162

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
163

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Gazelles in the mist
164

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue Pelican repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
165

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
166

CREATURES
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
167

FASHION

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
170

FASHION
A perfectionist as a chef and then as a photographer,
Charlie tried hard to perfect a photographic aesthetic
with his fashion photography. Always keen to keep the
authentic reality of Kenya in the settings of his fashion
work, whether using a backdrop of historic buildings
in Lamu or the wild landscapes of Maasailand as the
canvas upon which to place his subjects. Throughout
his career, all of the prominent fashion publications and
design houses in East Africa commissioned imagery
from Charlie.
171

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
172

FASHION
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
173

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
174

FASHION
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
175

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
176

FASHION
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
177

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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FASHION
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
179

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
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FASHION
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
181

STILL LIFE

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
184

STILL LIFE
Charlie would spend hours tinkering with a
small piece of white reflector panels to get the
highlights in a bottle perfectly formed. He was as
skilful in getting the best imagery out of products
and objects as he was with capturing people’s
emotions. He was engrossed with the idea of
making stationary and lifeless subjects resonate
in his imagery and developed a talent in making
something remarkable out of the mundane.
185

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
186

STILL LIFE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
187

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
188

STILL LIFE
Has ex esse mucius deterruisset, eu sea augue repudiandae suscipiantur, sea te utinam postea.
189

FOOD

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
192

FOOD
Charlie’s first profession was as a high level chef,
working in some of the world’s top restaurants in
London and in the French countryside. Unusually,
it was Charlie’s love of cooking that gave him a
path into photography as he began honing his
photographic skills by taking many hundreds of
images of dishes prepared in the restaurants he
worked in. Charlie’s passion for food photography
was never forgotten and even as his photographic
career matured and blossomed, he still spent a
considerable amount of his time shooting food.
193

CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
194

FOOD
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Charlie was a consummate professional who was held in the
highest regard and known to be a gentleman, even in the often
stressful and high pressure working conditions associated
with the advertising world. Many of his colleagues remark
to this day about how working with Charlie was always fun.
He was always genuine, good-natured and a pleasure to
work with while still ensuring the highest standards in his
work both in terms of creativity and execution. Even when
he was leading a project as the photographer or Director of
Photography, Charlie would always take his time to greet
and thank every member of his production team, a trait that
earned Charlie the admiration and love of those whom he
mentored and collaborated with.
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CHARLIE AT WORK
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CHARLIE AT WORK
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TRIBUTES
A few of the hundreds of tributes received from work colleagues, schoolmates, friends and those who knew Charlie.
Charlie was my best and closest friend. He was an incredibly
loyal person, always there for me through thick and thin. Without
doubt the most reliable and genuine man I have ever met. A
classicly dry sense of humour that had me in fits of laughter
often, his hearty laugh is actually ringing in my ears as I write
this. He was a true gentleman who would have done anything
for anyone whatever the time of day or night and it would never
be too much trouble.
I first met Charlie 20 years ago but it was really over the past
12 years that he and I became very close. We shared uncountable
fun adventures and good times. Away from photography his true
passion was fly fishing and there are very few places in Kenya that
we had not fished together. We spent hours and hours stalking
trout on the crystal clear streams, tarns, dams and lakes of the
Aberdares, Kericho and Mount Kenya. There was always light
competitiveness but it was more about enjoying the surroundings,
catching some fish and a cold White Cap with some smoked
trout and copious amounts of pili pili fresh at the end of the day. I
feel so honoured and privileged to have been able to experience
Chile with him just a few weeks before his life ended. A trip that
will remain in my mind for the rest of my life. We had the most
fantastic time. It was something we had talked about for years.
We fished all day every day for 10 days and I had never seen
him so happy. He was truly in his element. I will always miss my
favourite fishing partner greatly.
Andrew Campbell
I’d hear more from Charlie when he was out of Nairobi than when
he was here. He’d always call for no other reason than to say Hi.
And he’d always end the conversation with “Sorry mate gotta go,
I’m just hanging out of a helicopter”. Or “I’m waist-deep pulling
trout out of a river under Mt. Kenya”. Or “The sky here is amazing,
let me shoot you some clouds for that Serena job”. CGC and I
were always competing with each other. And we talked about
it and enjoyed it. Coz we were both trying to progress our craft
together – art direction and photography. He’d listen to me while
he was adjusting a light and then say, “Shut up, this is how we’re
doing it!” And I’d listen to him and invariably he’d be right. Our
creative relationship was very tight and real and easy.
Jason Bruckner, Creative Director, McCann Erickson
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CHARLIE GRIEVES-COOK PICTURE POETRY, HE SAID IT ALL
Charlie was one of the best people to work under and a great
mentor. Lessons from him were about perfection, speed and fun
while working on all projects. He taught me to appreciate the people
around us and treat them well – that way we would end up getting
the best out of everyone. As a friend CGC was a very loving pal
and his actions proved it all. He was caring and funny and all the
moments spent with him were full of laughter and joy. If there were
any issues he would ensure we sorted them all out before the day
ended. Charlie, I will miss all the road trips and travel, singing out
loud to all the funny music and the sunrise and sunset talks about
everything going on in our lives in all the beautiful places we shot.
Your work lives on every time we switch on the TV, look at a picture
on a billboard or magazine. Your love will always be in my heart, I
will never forget you for you were a true BFF.
Lilian Maina, Producer, Eye Queue Ltd
What I remember most fondly about Charlie was his zeal for life.
Each day at work, Charlie brought in the energy of two people. He
was energetic, positive, eager and happy with his life. He never
let anything pull him down and was very appreciative to everyone
that worked with and for him. You would always catch Charlie
saying “good job” every other minute to his team. This energy and
love for his job reflected on how he handled challenges that came
up every day at work and even in his everyday life. He put his
brains and creativity into action and got solutions to every problem.
That shot that couldn’t be done, bring Charlie’s box of tricks and
there is something in there to fix it and get the perfect shot. This
even applied to solving the issues at work. Charlie fixed it all
and kept everyone happy. I must say, this is the biggest lesson I
have chosen to take from knowing Charlie, every problem has a
solution. “Don’t give up.” I was honoured to know Charlie and to
work with him so closely. He was a force by himself. He gave me
a chance, in fact, many chances. His impact on my life cannot be
put into words. He is deeply missed every day. I know he lives in
the hearts of so many people whose lives he touched.
Makena Mutwiri, Personal Assistant to Charlie
Charlie was a great man, colleague, mentor, friend and a man
full of life. I met Charlie about 2 years ago, but our friendship
grew closer a few months later when he first noticed my
talent during a photoshoot in Amboseli. With his usual smile,
I remember him asking me “Where have you been hiding,
Judy?” From that day, I can’t remember ever being out on
location without Charlie by my side always encouraging and
advising me where he thought I could do better. He made me
part of a great team and we became like family. . . . I will never
forget the Japanese restaurant and you chasing a goat all
over the place to take pictures . . . great memories and some
of the best moments of my life. Charlie was a good protector;
he always protected the team and made sure none of us was
unfairly ‘bullied’ on set. Though you are gone, Charlie, I will
never forget you. I feel your presence all around the studio,
taking big steps around asking everyone if they were OK. I will
never forget those words. Then you would walk to your corner
and start cleaning your camera and making sure all your stuff
was nice and tidy! I miss you, Charlie, and I will love you for
always. Watch over the team.
Judy Maranga, Makeup Artist, Eye Queue Ltd
Charlie’s first experience of photography, was when as a boy,
he opened up the back of his father’s camera and accidently
exposed the holiday pictures! His love for food and love for
cooking is really what led Charlie to become a photographer.
He started by photographing the food he was creating so
he could use the pictures for training purposes. Up until his
death, photographing food was still a great passion of Charlie’s
that really brought together two aspects of his expertise. His
interest in photography led him into documenting long walking
expeditions he would go on with his good friend Toby Fenwick-
Wilson. Charlie’s amateur photography very quickly blossomed
into a fully professional career. In the five years that Charlie
worked as a professional photographer, he became not only
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one of Kenya’s best and most-loved photographers, but also a
truly world-class professional. I first met Charlie in 2008. It was
our first shoot together and he was immediately bouncing off
the walls, extremely eager. I initially thought it was because this
was his first shoot with us. But later I realized he approached
each job with the same unwavering eagerness and enthusiasm.
Two years on, we got together with Simon Cox and Duncan
Willetts, two photographers he not only admired but loved,
and set up the first Kenyan Production company specializing
in photography. In his commercial career, Charlie worked for
all of Kenya’s biggest corporations. Charlie was an absolute
perfectionist – he never wanted to put his name on a bad picture.
Charlie also had a particular ability to capture Kenya at her
best and many of his images will remain iconic forever. More
recently Charlie had branched into the moving- image and had
been working as a Director of Photography on a large number
of commercial films. This came about after Justin Connolly,
having worked with Charlie in stills, proposed that he work in a
team with Dan Prior directing and Charlie shooting. From the
very first film Charlie shot he reached a standard equal to many
DOP’s with far greater experience in moving images. This team
also developed into a marvelous friendship. Those of us who
worked with him all know that not only was he second to none
at what he did, he was an absolute joy and pleasure to work
with and that’s why so many of us loved him so dearly and his
death leaves such a void in his profession and in our hearts. No
amount of words could capture Charlie’s heart and soul and I
believe he now lives on through his pictures.
Quentin Ikiki, Executive Producer, Eye Queue Ltd
Charlie joined Prestige Hotels in 1999 as Executive Chef with
responsibility for training and he was part of the team that
helped rebrand the company, which became known as Heritage
Hotels of Kenya. Charlie’s approach was that he just got stuck
in, hands on. If the kitchen floor or the cookers were dirty he
would show the staff how to clean, and clean and clean. In fact
he was called by all the kitchen staff in the group “Bwana Safi”.
They really admired him. Charlie began creating Michelin star
standard menus in properties located in Samburu, Mara, Great
Rift Valley, Tsavo, Mombasa and Lamu. He created absolute
“theatre “ in these kitchens, each plate served was a “stage” on
which to place his creations. It sounds over the top but Charlie
was over the top. He caused chaos in the hotel industry and
created a “culinary tsunami”! He created training manuals
and used photography to best effect, taking images of each
and every dish served from the respective kitchens. He also
became involved with many other areas of the hotel and lodge
operations. There was a total of 650 staff in the company, from
the gardeners through to the General Manager, EVERYONE
knew Charlie and really respected his work ethic.
David Stogdale (a leading hotelier in Kenya)
I first saw Charlie’s work in a brochure his father, Jake, had
put together for his camp near Amboseli. I realised immediately
that Charlie had an eye for a picture, and his execution was
spot on. Here was an up and coming professional if ever I saw
one. And so it was, he came along in leaps and bounds. Keen,
dedicated, knowledgeable, he loved what he did with a passion
I certainly shared. He also moved with the times and techniques,
mastering first the stills process, then quickly moved, as so
many had done before him, into the moving picture disciplines.
The future was indeed very bright for him. Sadly, and why this
was not meant to be, will be a weight of unexplained knowledge
which we will have to bear for the rest of our lives.
Duncan Willets (the doyen of Kenya’s Professional Photographers)
I often think about you, how amazing you were as an individual
and how much more knowledge you had to impart to me!
Morris Gachago, Photography Assistant
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Charlie was the perfect companion on many safaris in to the
north of Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. Many of the safaris were
challenging, some were long hard walks, supported by camels
through difficult land, where an easy smile, extraordinary patience,
and a resilient nature were essential. However, his greatest
contributions on safari were his natural charm and his disarming
affinity for people. This was why Charlie was so at home in Africa
- language never being a barrier for such a character.
Toby Fenwick-Wilson
Charlie was an absolute pleasure to work with. He was, and
certainly remains, the most dedicated and passionate professional
I have ever had the privilege of working with. He taught me a
great deal about my craft and showed me how to aspire towards
perfection, taking pride in every single aspect. Charlie was a
gentleman and a good man. He was my friend and I’ll always
miss him dearly.
Dan Prior, MD of Quite Bright Films
Charlie was an extraordinary young man with enormous
talent who was loved by all who knew him. He was kindhearted,
exceptionally generous to all around him, modest and
unassuming, with a zest and passion for life so that he lived the
equivalent of a lifetime of 80 years packed into his 36 years.
Charlie will be remembered for his immensely kind spirit, his
laughter, vivacity, love for life and unquestionable dedication to
his profession. Charlie literally lived and breathed images, his eye
always searching for the next beautiful shot whilst his personality
remained unfalteringly warm and sociable. To those who worked
with him, Charlie was a joy and an inspiration. He was always
ready to share his knowledge with young Kenyans interested in
a career in photography and to give them encouragement. We
think of you every day, Charlie, and there is a huge gap in our
lives without you.
Jake Grieves-Cook (Charlie’s father)
Charlie was my best friend and as close to a brother as I could
possibly have. I tried to speak to him at least once a month and
every time he visited the UK I knew we were going to have the
best time. He was the funniest, most generous, understanding and
inspirational man I knew. Any time I needed someone to call for
emotional support, despite where he was, Charlie was always first
on my list and more importantly, he was always there for me and
I for him. Our connection goes all the way back to Hurstpierpoint,
where we discovered a shared passion for music, guitar playing and
general pranking around! I never laughed so much in the presence
of anyone else. Our band “The Rioters”, although atrocious, was
an amazing experience we shared as teenagers as we played at
being rock stars! I will cherish the memory of the many concerts we
attended together, the last one being, rather fittingly, The Levellers
which bookended 20 years of concert-going that started with The
Levellers back in 1991. On leaving school we both decided that
we wanted to travel before university and began planning what we
should do. Thailand, South America and USA were all mentioned
before we inevitably decided on Kenya. Along with James Coates
we set off on an amazing trip that first demonstrated to me, Charlie’s
amazing passion and love for the country.
The thing that I admired Charlie for most of all was that, unlike
so many of us, he was never afraid to follow his dreams. His
determination and passion for cooking was incredible to behold
and his food was always delicious. It is beyond me how someone
could have so many creative talents but it came as no surprise
that Kenya was where his real dreams lay. I was gutted when he
decided to move back to Kenya, but I completely understood. One
of the most amazing experiences of my life was our Millennium
trip to Kenya also shared with Robyn. On this occasion Charlie
organised everything and provided us with a holiday of a lifetime
and no better way to bring in the new millennium. Robyn and
Dan’s wedding was a wonderful day and I know that Charlie was
so proud of Robyn and as happy as I’ve ever seen him, as he was
able to see her marry one of his best friends. Charlie’s photos of
that day will live on forever!
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It’s been a pleasure and inspiration to me to watch his
photography career bloom and achieve so much in such a short
time. Like many of his friends and family, we have his photos
framed, signed and in prominent position all over our home; which
we will cherish forever. If it wasn’t for Charlie’s brave decisions in
life, I would never have had the courage to quit my own soulless
job to re-train and change career.
It was an honour to have him as my best man. Despite being
based in Kenya, he organised a fantastic stag do for me; sea fishing
in Brighton…no surprises there! Made ever more hilarious by our
total lack of sea legs and hangovers from the first days celebrations!!
On the day itself he offered all the emotional support I could wish
for from a best man. I will never forget us running around the South
of France like headless chickens trying to get things organised. He
was amazing, and despite being possibly more nervous than me,
delivered a great speech and as usual, was the life and soul of the
party. My wife, Lou, adored him. We loved him so much that we
chose to share a week of our honeymoon with him! The ultimate
tribute that I can make is to say that the best times of my life were
shared with Charlie. I am going to miss him terribly.
Toby Bloomfield
Charlie was probably the most unique person I have ever known –
he had many different segmented groups of friends – be it Friends
from School, his stint at university, from cooking or photography
or the massive spectrum of people that he socialized with in both
UK and Kenya. Because he was so liked by all, there are literally
dozens of people who called Charlie their “best friend”. Charlie
had an adventurous spirit and a love for the outdoors. In school
holidays or weekends off we would often be found walking up
a local hill or into a forest with the intention of a big adventure
– unfortunately due to the fact that it seemed more important to
pack a couple of bottles of cider rather than tents and sleeping
bags, these adventures never lasted that long! More recently, I
was lucky enough to walk up Mount Kilimanjairo with Charlie in
2007. We both loved the trip so much, we decided we must plan
another bigger and better adventure. Finally at the beginning of
2012 we set off on my last adventure with my dear friend. We
climbed up the largest mountain in South America. Charlie spent
a lot of the trip charging about trying to capture the beautiful
scenery on camera. We did not make it up to the top due to the
extreme weather. It didn’t seem to ruin the trip by not summiting,
and we had already made plans to return to the mountain in 2
years time to try again. On the trip, I spent much time with Charlie
talking about life in general. It was apparent to me that he was
really enjoying the constant challenge of his work and he was over
the moon at the recent birth of baby Isla, his niece. I had not seen
him this relaxed and happy in many years. In the 25 years I have
known Charlie, I have been honoured to call him my best friend.
I have essentially lost a brother in Charlie and I will grieve for
him always. In my opinion grief is love turned into eternal missing.
Charlie will be sorely missed and we will all love him forever.
David Cox
Charlie and I were good friends; indeed I counted him as among
my very best friends and it was he who was my immediate first
choice as godfather when my eldest son, Hugo, was born. We
would spend many weekends on safari in Kenya, or fishing the
Mathioya, and of course the many nights in bars and restaurants
around Nairobi. Apart, from ‘being the life and soul of the party’,
he never failed to impress me with his array of talents. He was of
course a trained chef, but his ability to plan and whip-up great food
at short order in the bush was always impressive. He had a great
chortle, fine wit and turn of phrase, along with a long supply of good
stories (about “Croissant Duff”, inter alia) and by bringing his guitar
and voice to the camp fire, he always created a magic atmosphere.
He seemed to bring a sense of calm dedication to everything
he did and this could be seen in watching him fish and fish and
pursue the fish to the end of the river and until night would fall. I
imagine he brought this pursuit of perfection to his photography and
indeed I remember him on the South Coast enduring squadrons
of sandflies, dive bombing him again and again as he set up the
photos, to get the right shot for a hotel brochure.
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I was lucky enough to go on a couple of extended walks with
him; one in the Mara in 2003 and the other in the Loita Hills
in 2006. What stands out in my memory of these trips was his
ability and willingness to interact with the Maasai. He understood,
and seemed to tune into, their wavelength with remarkable
sensitivity, and with genuine interest in everything around him
both cultural and physical. Notwithstanding this, his ability to eat
(and to enjoy) all parts of the goat no doubt endeared him like
a brother to the Maasai. Above all he was a great mate and he
went the extra mile for me on many an occasion. He was just
so positive about things in Kenya and in his work; he loved both
with a passion I envy. I miss his friendship, and his intelligence,
humour and ability to observe.
Giles Tremayne
He did great work for us and his memory is immortalised in the
photos he left for us.
Michael Joseph (Founder and former Chief Executive of Safaricom)
A friend like no other, I was privileged to have spent unforgettable
time with Charlie. Adventures on safari from Amboseli and
Tsavo to the Aberdares and Lake Baringo, and many impromptu
get-togethers from Nairobi to Milan. Charlie will always be an
inspiration on how to live, and his memory is cherished as much
as his company is missed. I think of Charlie most days and
imagine him visiting in Watamu or heading off on another safari
somewhere. He really did have such an amazing energy and
outlook on life, he was a wonderful friend.
Nic Cahill
Working with Charlie was one of the best experiences of my
life. He was a perfectionist in his craft and pushed himself and
those around him to do better. He was the very best kind of
boss, exacting but kind - I wasn’t an employee but a collaborator
in his work. With him in charge every assignment was an
adventure complete with getting lost, bogged in mud, charged
by elephants and harassed by crooked policemen, sometimes
all in that order and in one day. Charlie had a knack for getting
into situations but thankfully, he could also charm himself out
of it. He had such sense of humour about life, you couldn’t help
but laugh with him.
He taught me so much about photography, being a good
person and how to really live. I am glad to have been there to
witness some of his journey and proud to have been his friend.
He is one of the best people I’ve ever known.
Gathoni Kinyanjui-Howard
The day I met Charlie for the first time, I was 12 years old. He had
a really rather large head compared to mine, or so I thought. And
his tie was too long. Then he laughed. It was not loud so much
as mischievous, and there was a distinct twinkle emanating from
his eyes… By the end of the lesson that we had been waiting for
when we met, we were firm friends and remained so forever after.
As Charlie’s head got smaller (or mine grew); his laugh and
lust for life got bigger and bigger. At school, he seemed to quietly
gain skills and talents (and the odd moment of well-intentioned
notoriety) with ease and little fuss. He was a great guitar player,
naturally funny and a good cross-country runner (to the extent
he turned up one day and thrashed the majority of the school
cross-country team). He was a whistling, mountaineering, flyfishing,
extraordinary-cooking, strange-dancing, big-laughing,
warm-hugging, glory of humanity who I had the joy and honour
of knowing. He was my friend and I loved him dearly.
For all the laughter, madness, and many other tales and
tributes in this book and further afield, perhaps the best way to
try and encapsulate Charlie is in his reaction to my telling him
his sister, Robyn, had agreed to marry me. He smiled and said,
“Morning! How cool is that?! One of my best friends as a brotherin-law!
Let’s go to the pub..”
Dan Beattie (Charlie’s brother-in-law)
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Charlie and I did a lot of photo-shoots together in the chopper - one
of them being the Safaricom shoot. Every-time I see a Safaricom
banner it reminds me of the wonderful adventures we had together.
He was an incredible person to work with - always so professional,
calm and fun. I fly with many photographers from all over the world
and Charlie was without a doubt one of the best.
Jamie Roberts, Managing Director, Tropicair
Charlie was a very special friend to me. Our friendship started
when I asked one of his colleagues from work if he was dating
someone. My thought was that he would be a difficult person
to date but we started going out together shortly after that and I
spent a great year of my life with the kindest, funniest and loving
Charlie. My Charming Charlie, I called him. His memory will live
with me forever. Our short-lived romance is the defining period of
my life and it was such a blessing to have Charlie with me. CGC
lived with such passion that I agree with a statement made to the
effect that all his experiences in this life added up to what would
be 80+ years of living for anyone else. I miss the crazy stories that
Charlie shared daily. My favourite memory remains the warmth
of the Saturday morning hug, outside his apartment. His gift in
photography, his passion in cooking, his love for his friends and
family (especially his niece Isla!), his dedication to his team, his
grateful nature, his charm and wit will forever be missed by all who
loved him. I love you Charlie, for always..
Diana Nekoye
Diana on a photoshoot with Charlie
Charlie’s contribution to promoting the image of Kenya was recognised
by the Kenya Government in this letter from the Minister of Tourism.

This E-book is published privately in memory of
a wonderful man: Kenyan photographer Charlie
Grieves-Cook. Not for sale commercially, it is
intended as a memento for family and friends.
Charlie Grieves-Cook had the copyright to all
his photographs featured in this book and many
were used in the advertising and marketing
campaigns of a number of leading companies
which also retain their rights to the images.