Who is Charles Clutterbuck?

Charles, or Clutt as he's called by everyone, is Beryl's father. He brings his family to Colonial Kenya and sets up a farm. He trains racehorses by trade. His wife and Beryl's mother, Clara, leaves two years later taking their son, but leaving him with Beryl.

He doesn't send Beryl to school like the other white children. Instead he lets her run free, training with the Kipsigis boys and eating with Kibiis' family. During her adolescent years, however, he begins to think thst he has not given her what she needs to navigate adulthood. So he brings in governesses, tutors, and a housekeeper/mistress in an attempt to tame Beryl. Financial troubles cause him to have to sell the farm and he goes to Cape Town to train horses. While he offers Beryl the opportunity to come with him and Emma, he also offers the choice of marrying Jock.

He and Beryl reunite as trainers when she gets her own farm and while he doesn't understand her need to fly, he support her decision.