Thembisa had only been going for a few years when Charles became the Trust's administrator. His disciplined life, administrative background, African experience, compassion for the disadvantaged, and wisdom brought breadth and strength to the Trust.

Charles served with the Friends’ Ambulance Unit (FAU) as a conscientious objector for over 6 years during World War 2. His posts included Burma, China, India and South Africa, where he recovered from liver damage. In 1946-49 he read Social Administration and Law at Birmingham University, then went out to Nigeria with the Colonial Office. His wife Cecillie joined him at the end of 1949. Over the next 14 years they and their two daughters were posted to many places in Eastern Nigeria.

From 1968-1983 Charles lectured at Birmingham University in Development and Administration, spending time on secondments in Mauritius, Southern Sudan, Kenya and Iran, and also doing consultancies in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman and Zambia. In 1980, with Lord Carrington, he oversaw the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia elections. In 1993 Charles and Cecillie were peace monitors in the run-up to the first democratic election in South Africa in 1994. The African theme ran throughout his life. He and Cecillie were both Fellows of Rhodes University Grahamstown. On retirement in 1983 they moved to Kennington, Oxford, where they became involved with Kennington Overseas Aid, which raised funds for Third World Projects.

Charles was interested in the whole world and always strove to make it a better place.