We were deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of 2007 American Theatre Arts graduate Charlotte 'Charlie' Elise Seekings.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Charlie Seekings as a student on the American Theatre Arts programme from 2004 to 2007 are still reeling from the news of her untimely death just before Christmas. Several of us attended her beautiful and deeply moving funeral last week, where it was obvious just how many lives Charlie had touched and how profoundly she will be missed.

A local Bexley girl, Charlie attended Townley Grammar School before joining the ATA, but she also set down deep roots in Texas, where she spent the second year of her degree, returning upon graduation to perform and record as part of the hip hop act, The Weekend Hustler, with her husband, Andrew. As ‘Lady Multi’ she gained a genuine cult following and it’s a testament to her popularity that friends in the USA held services of their own to pay tribute and say goodbye. In the last year, Charlie had returned home and was applying to qualify as a primary school teacher, an indication of her fondness for children and commitment to passing on what she had learnt.

A talented actor, dancer and performer, bright, passionate and funny, Charlie was a great credit to her family, her friends and Rose Brudford College, of which she was a very proud graduate. It’s a duller world without her, but memories of her time at Rose Bruford will always bring a smile.

Steve Dykes (Programme Director, American Theatre Arts)