I decided to write this short article as a memorial to Brenda Carter, who I had known since I was a very young child, as her father had land next to my father’s land on Pitcher Hill. She was also well known by four generations of Wickhamford villagers.
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Carter Family Background
Brenda Mary Carter was born in Wickhamford on 10th January 1941, the daughter of Arthur and Violet Phyllis Carter. Violet, who was always known as Tiny, was the daughter of Allen and Leah Halford. Brenda had an older brother Maurice (see article about Maurice Carter’s National Service) who was born in 1936. At the time of Brenda’s birth her parents and brother were living at what is now No 71 Pitchers Hill and presumably that’s where Brenda was born. At some time between 1939 and 1951 Brenda’s parents swapped houses with her mother’s parents, Allen and Leah Halford, and moved to what is now No 89 Pitchers Hill.
There was land attached to that house and Brenda’s father worked the land for a living as a market gardener.
Brenda Carter’s Early Life
Brenda was born with slight learning difficulties. Her mother told my mother that she thought it may have been caused by her falling off a ladder whilst plum picking when she was expecting Brenda. Brenda attended Badsey and Blackminster Schools but I’m sure it must have been quite difficult for her. When she was older, Brenda was offered a place away from home where her educational needs would probably have been better met than main stream schools. However, her parents were worried that their beloved daughter might be institutionalized and not allowed to come back and live at home, so the offer was rejected.
Like many children in Evesham and the surrounding villages, Brenda joined the Children’s Club of the local paper, The Evesham Standard, on 28th August 1953. Silver paper was collected by the Club and Brenda is mentioned several times in the Children’s Club column of the newspaper, between 1953 and 1955, as having collected silver paper for the club.
Brenda’s Life after School
On leaving school, Brenda never went out to work but helped her father on his land when there were crops to be gathered. I know she also helped pick peas for my father. I still smile at a little episode that occurred whilst helping pick peas for him. There were my Mum and Dad, my aunt and Brenda picking the peas. My aunt had picked some peas to take home for her dinner that evening. When she came to go home, the peas she had picked were missing. The next day she asked Brenda if she had taken the peas home by mistake. Brenda, who was well versed in Asum Grammar, replied ‘Ay I took um but thee cossn’t av um cos we’ve yut um’.
She may not have had any close friends but she would stop and chat to everyone in the village and villagers always had time for her. She regularly caught the bus at the Sandy’s Avenue stop and went to Evesham to do shopping for her mother. She was a regular at the village stores in Wickhamford. She could often be seen going to the Post Office shop when Major and Mrs. Main kept it. They sold draught sherry and Brenda got the bottle she was carrying in her bag filled up, so the family could have a quiet drink in the evening. The family had a black labrador, who I think was called Sam, and Brenda adored him.
Brenda’s father decided to start a small roadside stall to sell his produce. They also sold jars of pickled onions that they had prepared. Brenda helped with the preparation of the onions. I’m sure she must have shed a few tears whilst helping.
One of the customers at the stall was Ken Dodd who purchased a jar of onions and on leaving remarked ‘I’ll be pickled tonight’.
Brenda’s Later Life
After the death of her father, Arthur Carter, Brenda and her mother moved to live with and look after her grandmother, Leah Halford, in Kings Road, Evesham. Her grandmother died first and then her mother and Brenda was then under the care of her brother Maurice, who lived in Aldington. She remained at Kings Road for a while, but eventually moved to a house in Boat Lane, Evesham. Maurice sadly became ill and died. Prior to his death he had asked his stepson and wife, Keith and Wendy Hunt, if they would be Brenda’s guardians, as she had no one else, and they agreed.
Eventually, Brenda could no longer live on her own and she moved to a residential home near Worcester and passed away on the 25th February 2014 aged 73. I attended Brenda’s funeral at Worcester crematorium on the 13th March, 2014.
The service was taken by celebrant Stephen Hoskins who gave a nice tribute to Brenda and the hymn was All Things Bright and Beautiful. Apart from Keith and Wendy, I was the only other mourner. I spoke to Brenda’s guardians after the service. As I am always looking for photos of Wickhamford for the Badsey Society website, I asked them if Brenda had any photos and they said she had lots. A few months later I called on Keith and Wendy and was given quite a large folder of photos. Most of the photos were personal family ones and several are now on the Badsey Society website and some are included in this article.
Valerie Harman, April 2025