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February 2021 February 2021

In line with the philosophy of self-sufficiency, the
OBITUARIES
estate had it own transport depot at the Queen
Post building near the crossroads at Briantspuddle.
The estate had two Sentinel steam wagons for There were other aspects to Brenda's life including being a proud
auntie to two nieces, grandmother of two grandsons and two
carrying pigs and feedstuffs, sixteen tractors six
vans and lorries, eight cars and twelve motor granddaughters and great-grandmother to two great-granddaughters. She
cycles. was active in the Mothers' Union, the Milton Abbey Music Festival, her old
school girls' reunion committee, and she was even a fashion model at the Drax
There was similar self sufficiency in electric power Hall when the need arose in the 1960s. She also got involved with other village
and water. Electric power at 250 volts DC was organisations over the decades and was never satisfied unless she was part of
supplied to the farms and some residences from the organisation of them in some ways. Singing, however, was always a most
what is now Bridge House. important part of her life and it was only the 2020 Covid pandemic which
curtailed this activity.
Ernest Debenham also patronised the Arts
generously, building up a collection of pottery, Brenda will be remembered as always being supportive and organisational
ceramics and paintings. He commissioned Eric Gill and someone who could be trusted to keep things going in any adversity, and
to create the First World War Memorial at Bladen will be missed by many. What we have to know now is that Brenda was
Valley, and the Peace Garden at the east end of Affpuddle church for those who defeated by three health enemies, cancer, diabetes and finally pneumonia,
fell in the Second World War. Trees were also one of his great passions, and and that anything less than that she would have seen off.
many trees were planted

with the help of Ursula
Waterhouse and the advice Gilbert Griffin
of Richard St Barbe Baker,
the founder of the Men of What a shame COVID-19 restrictions robbed Dad of a full funeral service. He
Trees. was a fiercely traditional man, and would have hoped for a full church, with
plenty of loud hymns.
However, the recession in
farming that took place in Dad was born at home in North Street in June 1929 to Gilbert ( Bert ) and
the 1920’s saw prices Gladys, the second of what was to be 4 children. An older brother and two
tumbling, and even with the younger sisters. His father Bert ran a family building business in the village,
massive amount of money which Dad was not destined to join, but did eventually.
that had been invested in
the project, the venture Dad went to the village school, where he met his long-time friend Gilbert
began to fail and the scale Phillips, and they stayed friends their whole life. After leaving the local school,
of the operation had to be Dad progressed to Poole Grammar School, and won a scholarship to
cut back after 1932. James Southampton University. There he read Zoology. Or started to read Zoology.
Barrett received this This study lasted 2 years. At the end of the second year, he decided that this
following letter from Sir Ernest was not the subject for him. He could not face
Debenham. another year of dissecting bugs and small mammals,
and naming all their parts.
Individual parts of the
project, like the dairy, It was during one holiday from University that when in
the carpenter’s workshop, he saw a young woman
continued to be successful,
but the first sale of land was walk past on her way to the reck. He was instantly
made in 1943 when 5,600 smitten. This was the woman he was going to marry,
and he hadn’t even met her at that point. After many
acres was sold. After Sir
enquiries’ dad found out, the woman in question was

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