Charles Greensted - passed away this week

Fordychap

Fordychap

New member
Location
Forest of Bowland, NW England
Dear All,
I didn’t know Charles Greensted at all except as a name, since he was the LVV editor. Sadly, I learnt this morning from his wife Mary that he had passed away this week. I had only made contact with him and Mary due to his selling a Morini 500 that I was interested in for a client. By the time I reached out, the Morini had already been sold, but I kept up a brief correspondence with Mary. Her email this morning said:

“Charles had sold all his bikes, Italian and British, before he died earlier this week. All that’s left is a Laverda Ghost that he was asking £2600 for. I can send details. Please let me know if you have anyone who might be interested.”

I offered my condolences to her and will stay alert if anyone is looking for a Laverda Ghost.

Actually, the Ghost is a pretty good bike if you swap out the stock exhaust for a Termi and upgrade the mapping. With the fuel low down and a good rake/trail angle, it turns quickly and makes a nice back lane bike with plenty of character. It’s not too hard to work on, and you can even add some homemade innards to the airbox scoops to create a “ram-air” effect that the engine management takes in its stride.
A reasonable cost for what would be an interesting bike for riding the lanes or doing a track day.
They go a lot better than you might think!
If anyone wants to contact Mary - I have her details.
 
Charles was a lovely guy and loved his bikes - as an engineer he knew about a great deal of technical processes and fascinating to talk to - he knew some months ago he was up against it but remained full of humour and pragmatism - he was a common visitor to the Midlands meets rest in peace fella - our thoughts are with Mary and his family - it’s a sadder place without him
 
Charles was a true gentleman and was always one of the first in the queue if you needed any help with a bike, an event and often, in my case, just collecting items for me that couldn't be posted to the IOM. Last year, for example, I ordered two Odyssey batteries from a battery dealer in Cheltenham. I was due over, I think it was for the ILOC AGM among other things, and Charles turned up on his Ghost with, much to my surprise, both batteries in his tank bag. I had thought the weight might be an issue, but apparently it wasn't for Charles.
Surprisingly, having grown up in Cheltenham, and a regular visitor throughout my adult life since my family remained living in the town, Charles and my paths didn't really cross until after I became more active again in Laverda circles after 2010. I became a member of the ILOC committee when Charles was the LVV editor and from that time we became very good friends and regular traveling companions. We rode in a group from Spa to the Breganze rally in 2017, and subsequently returned to Italy in December 2018 to collect his very nicely restored 100 Sport and the following year for the 70th. Had he not been unwell he would have gone again in 2024 for the 75th.
Charles was also a stalwart member of the 'Gloster Chapter' of Laverda owners and we had many a pleasant evening in some pub or other talking Laverda balls and generally putting the world to rights.
Obviously I was well aware of Charles' battle with cancer, which for a few years looked like it had been brought under control, but more-or-less out of the blue the results started to get worse again, and this time the medical profession didn't really seem to know what to do about it. I think he found it incredibly frustrating but he was even more disgusted when his consultant, instead of telling him what treatment was planned as he was expecting, told him to start planning for his demise as it was now too late to do anything.
Not wanting to leave Mary with the task of dealing with his bikes etc after he was gone, he rather stoically set about disposing of his small collection, spares and various bits of garage equipment; and it seems most have now found good new homes.
I last visited Charles in the new year, when I went over for Clem's funeral, and he sort of joked about that if I left my next visit for too long the next trip would be for his funeral. Unfortunately, that is going to be the case, yet another funeral to attend of a friend who has been taken prematurely. I will very much miss his friendship along with his reasoned and anodyne observations on the many issues we discussed.
The attached photos are of Charles preparing for the Shepton Show in 2020, his 100 is on the stand to the right, although he appears to be more interested in the stockpile of biscuits on the counter;Charles_SheptonShow.jpgCharles and memorial bench.JPG and of him making himself comfortable on the memorial bench he purchased to commemorate his grandfather, who was killed in Belgium only a few weeks before the Armistice in November 1918.
 
Charles was given a very fitting send off yesterday, with a funeral described as a ‘good one’ by many attendees if there can be such a thing. It was standing room only and the tributes by friends and family totally summed up the complex character that was Charles. His taste in music was more varied than you could think possible and it played an important place in his funeral as much as it had in life. Motorcycling anecdotes also feature throughout the service demonstrating how that had helped shape his life and friendships. He will be sorely missed.
 

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DoC! said:
Sad to see you go Charles. God's speed. The last time I saw him I was up a ladder cleaning out his gutter!
Another 'good 'un passed away over the last 12 months.
Chris
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Yes I seem to remember the occasion - and as you've been so quiet recently I was starting to think you'd kicked the bucket too!
 
Charles was a real gentleman.

I and my wife had the pleasure to meet him and his wife Mary for the first time a few years ago at our annual meeting at Baskerville Hotel in Wales. He was particularly nice towards me being an Italian Laverdista in UK. Last time I have seen him was in Summer 2025 at Donington Park circuit.
Very sad to learn the news. Sincere condolences to his family.
Rest in peace good man.

Domenico
 
Hello Andy,
Yes I've been quiet since I retired 10 years ago. No more lonely nights in hotels far away on standby trying to pass the time on the internet.
Because of this I missed the passing of my good friend Clem and I would have attended his funeral had I known. I did speak to his son Tom who remembers us loading up the trailer to go to the Breganze bash in 2017 and 2019. Damn good times those. In 2019 Clem and I were invited out to join Piero driving around the Laverda 'test track' in the mountains behind Breganze. What an afternoon that was.:):):)
Health wise I've had a few close calls with the grim reaper but I'm 72 in a few weeks and still manage to walk the dogs 4 or 5 miles a day.
See you at Baskerville all being well.

Hi chrisk. Yes ,it is indeed me DoC! of the exploding vodka filled kettle. It was certainly one of the daftest things I have done. It was quite frightening at the time with blue flame everywhere, but it did make a good forum story and I hope it made people smile rather than saying 'daft tw*t!!

Cheers Chris
 
DoC! said:
Yes ,it is indeed me DoC! of the exploding vodka filled kettle. It was certainly one of the daftest things I have done. It was quite frightening at the time with blue flame everywhere, but it did make a good forum story and I hope it made people smile rather than saying 'daft tw*t!!

Cheers Chris
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😎 Smile??? I near pissed myself laughing at that post and have made mention of it on a few occasions away from the forum. Fucken funny…. welcome back.
 
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