My father, David Charlaff, who has died aged 71, was an osteopath committed to a “pay-what-you-can” business model – he accepted recompense in any form, from a token fee to artwork, theatre tickets or just a thank-you. As a result his practice in north London was a cross between a contemporary art gallery and a museum of anatomy, complete with flamingo skeletons and bottled sharks.
David was born into a Jewish family in Cape Town, South Africa, where his father, Solly, was the owner of a printing company and his mother, Sybil (nee Slome), was a housewife. Despite apartheid-era antisemitism, David’s sporting prowess gave him access to such national institutions as the Junior Springboks rugby team.
