Peter C Carter OH 1945-1949
Saturday 28 December 2019
It is an old truism that anyone can father a child….however being a Dad takes a lifetime….& that is certainly the case today as we celebrate Dad’s life and his memory! He was of course so much more - a beloved husband, adored grandpa to Benjamin, Jonathan, Lucy & Toby and a dear friend to so many. Born in 1932 in Gloucester, to Robert (a master mariner) and Clarice Carter….Dad grew up in Cradley in Herefordshire on a 60-acre farm, overlooking the Black Hills. The farm had a large piggery, a cider apple orchard (planted by Bulmers), grazing for sheep and a chicken battery built by Halls of Paddock Wood – an early connection with Kent. Grandpa would take Dad & his sister Margaret to school in Ledbury. Dad moved to the Grammar School, before finishing his education as a boarder at Hereford Cathedral School. He excelled in every subject that involved…..rugby and sport in general and was awarded his 1st XV colours, of which he was very proud. At 18, he was called up for two years National Service with the Royal Engineers at Cove in Hampshire - strangely his weekly pay was more than his first job at the bank! Tales of camaraderie, months spent under canvas and all they learnt together as a squadron, suggested that he really enjoyed himself; he also was chosen to shoot for the Regiment at Bisley. He often felt that National Service should be reintroduced to help guide youngsters today. His parents having moved to the Hampshire coast in 1949, Dad started his banking career at the National Provincial Bank in New Milton as a junior! After a number of relief postings in the Southampton area, he then became Chief Cashier in Kingston, before being promoted to Manager’s Clerk. It was in Kingston in 1957….Mum & Dad met at a cocktail party and they married in Surbiton on 14th March 1959. After only a few years in Surrey they moved to Woodley, near Reading before moving to Staplehurst in ’66…Dad as manager, opening a new branch of National Provincial Bank, some years later becomingNatwest. Dad’s last position was Manager of Bearsted where he worked for some 8 years or so. Through the bank, Mum & Dad made many lifelong friends…..Dad loved being part of a rural community, working with a variety of businesses and farming in particular. Amongst other events, the Kent County Show was always an important date in his diary, where he would host the Natwest stand for customers and visitors, living & working in the Garden of England. Another diary entry was Charing Point-to-Point…..always a great social event…….Dad might have a tip for a race, but more often than not he was host to the open-bar around the car where friends would gather as his champagne cocktails were legendary & lethal!Dad took early retirement at the end of ’88…….and then became very active in the Natwest Group Pension Association…….firstly as Kent Chairman, before becoming national President, travelling the country & Scotland to meet colleagues, speak at lunches with 1000 or more guests.…..completely undaunted. Sadly, with the banking crisis & indeed RBofS role in it….under Fred Goodwin….shares plummeted and the bank within which so many had worked for years and years, was now state owned…almost! Dad was mortified that this had happened and incensed that his shares and those he had given me for my 18th were worth less than they had been some 30 years before - thanks Fred! When I began my career, I often wondered how Dad was able to do so much extra-curricular stuff in the community – then it dawned on me, the bank used to close at 3.30/4 meaning he would be home by 5 or even earlier…..unless of course one of his team had failed to cash up correctly – an error not often repeated! Sport was a must in Dad’s life….he loved playing rugby & cricket in his younger years and then later in life, watching from the touchline, the boundary or on TV. Rugby was his real passion…….starting at school and then playing for various clubs wherever the bank roles would take him……..including Bournemouth, New Milton, Reading & Esher! Playing at No. 8 or second row, his height was a big advantage! As a youngster, he would often take me to Twickenham…..sitting on the benches right next to the touchline with the players & action only feet away…….so different to the dizzy heights of Twickers today. He would have a hip flask (not for me I might add) & always bought a large bar of Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut, a real treat! Throughout his life, Dad just got involved…..treasurer at Reading Rugby Club whilst also running the bar; treasurer of the Staplehurst Carnival & Fete committee, the cricket club and so much more. He also became treasurer of Cranbrook Rugby Club and a Vice-President, some years after taking me there as a 10-year-old for my very first matches. For many years, hardly a Saturday went by when Dad was not on the touchline …..shouting “Come on Brook”…always enjoying a pint of beer (in a jug not a straight glass) & a hot toddy afterwards. I do remember one match.….the opposition winger was hurtling towards the try line, with me corner-flagging to cut him off – I missed, he scored…….a familiar voice from the touchline shouted: “that was your man Carter” - it was Dad!! I’d like to say I never missed a tackle after that……but I’m not sure I can! Both Alison & I were pupils at Cranbrook School and during that time Dad became Chairman of the Parent/Teachers Association, involved in fund-raising and events for the School. Alison went on to become a Norland Nanny whilst I worked for Garrard. Both Lucy & Toby also went to Cranbrook as boarders and during their time there, the school celebrated its Quincentenary…..Dad liked that! Dad was incredibly proud of his four grandchildren and all they have achieved in their young lives already - Benjamin at Goldman Sachs, Jonathan at UX Connexions, Lucy studying politics at Bath, whilst Toby is currently in the Alps before embarking on a world trip and then onto Nottingham to study Medicinal Chemistry.Paul Carter