Christopher Pan Charman (potter); b. Godshill 12 Jan 1933; p. Thomas Charman and Margaret Agnes (Westlake) (q.v.); S: 1943 - 1951 vice-Captain of Rugby team, aero-modelling, chior, m. Katherine Lucy Duthie (potter) (q.v.) at Oxford 1960: ch. Ellen Mary and Tom Edward; potter and part time farmer; cycle touring, field archery, folk singing and amateur dramatics.  He passed away on the 19th April, age 90.    

Christopher wrote a book about his life as a potter titled 'In the Spirit of Godshill.' With his wife Kate also a Sidcotian S:1950 – 1956), the two of them ran the well-known Godshill Pottery in the New Forest for more than 60 years. There is to be a double Celebration of the lives of them both, on Sunday 30th April 2023 in Godshill, as many of you will know Kate also passed away in January 2023. 

Chris’s book was published by a local independent publisher Millersford Press. The book captures the idyllic childhood of Christopher and his sister Danae, with their parents Tom Charman, woodcarver, ventriloquist and spiritualist, and mother, Margaret Westlake, the daughter of the famous geologist and founder of the Woodcraft Order of Chivalry and Forest School at Sandy Balls in Godshill, Ernest Westlake.

Chris's mother Margaret set up the pottery with her husband Tom in the fashionable arts and crafts tradition of the 1920s. Chris’s father Tom sadly died when Chris was just four years old. His mother Margaret raised the family and ran the pottery until Chris took over and continued the simple philosophy of ‘pots made to be used’, just as many New Forest potters did 2,000 years ago.

Chris was passionate about the countryside, farming and the New Forest. A wonderful man who will be missed by many.