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Brenda lived most of her life in the countryside, but she was not a country girl. In fact, she was London born and bred. She had a difficult childhood.  Her father contracted TB when she was an infant and, after a long illness, finally died when Brenda was a teenager.  This affected her greatly.  In her words: “I’ve always felt so sorry for the young man who had all his ambitions cut short, to end in a miserable heap of ill health. It can still make me cry. He died at 44.” Whilst her family was initially prosperous, their fortunes declined with her father’s health.  The family moved first to Croydon, where she got shot at by a German airman during the war, and then back to her birthplace of Hounslow, to live in a council house.  But Brenda was a bright and confident child, earning a scholarship to what might be called a “posh” school, Godolphin and Latimer.  Poorer than her peers, at one time her family was unable to afford a new school uniform and in one class photograph she is seen standing out in in a dark tunic amongst a sea of white shirts.  But as she said: “these things never mattered”.  She already had the self- confidence to pay no heed to these incidentals. Brenda stood out in other ways, earning entry to University, the first in her family to do so. She chose to study science, an odd choice since it did not particularly interest her and she did not excel in it.  But as she explained recently: “The real and only reason I took the science route was because I heard that the lad down the road had just started scientific work at £15 a week!! ‘I could do that’ I thought.  Our family was living on £5 a week at that time.” Like many of her generation, Brenda was careful with money, but she was never mean.  She prided herself on her ability to make- do and mend, to re-use and re-cycle. In hospital recently, she would proudly announce how the kaftan she was wearing was purchased more than a quarter of a century ago. Anyway, to return to her story:  even if the scientific path was perhaps not best suited to Brenda personally, it was fortuitous in one respect; it led her on an inexorable path to meeting Jim, her future husband and life partner. (I should point out here that Jim is Gil and Gil is Jim.  Brenda had just one husband.  She called him Jim and, in this address, so shall I). After Brenda and Jim left their respective universities, fate then placed them in close proximity, initially at a scientific research lab in the leafy Surrey countryside and later – when their employer relocated them both – to a factory near Southampton docks. How did Brenda catch Jim’s eye?  There are two events that Jim recalls.  Firstly, what he calls euphemistically a “change of fashion” around that time.  Those who were around then will understand what he is getting at.  A church is not an appropriate place to be going into more detail. Secondly, he recalls a remarkable event, somewhere along a lane behind the research labs.  A number of the researchers, Jim and Brenda included, were taking a walk, when one of the men found a frog – or perhaps it was a toad – in the grassy verge, picked it up and used it to scare some of the women.  This did not scare Brenda, who was afraid only for the frog. She admonished the show-off for frightening the little creature, took the frog off him, and carefully returned it to the grass. In an era when women were expected to be seen but not heard, Brenda was confident enough to stand up to a bully. (And, incidentally, was not squeamish about handling a frog.) How many characteristics of Brenda does that vignette capture?  Her firm beliefs.  Her confidence o state them, no matter how that might be received.  Her standing up for the vulnerable.  It may not be fanciful to even see here a nascent love of the countryside.  Certainly, it made a marked impression on a youthful Jim, such that he remembers it clearly almost 60 years later. It seems that Brenda had also noticed Jim: for, as a friend of the time recalls: “Brenda warned me off Jim. Not that Jim was unsuitable or that I was potentially interested.  She simply wanted to keep Jim for herself.” Sometime after these two events, the dating and romance between Jim and Brenda began.  How and when is unclear.  Knowing Brenda, it is very possible that she asked Jim out, rather than the other way around. By this time, Jim was living in Lyndhurst, in the New Forest.  But Brenda, not yet seduced … by the country life, returned to London.  Notwithstanding this, the romance continued, with Jim riding regularly up to London and back on his Lambretta scooter, a formidable journey even today. At this point, things started to move more quickly. Within 18 months they were married, living first in Lyndhurst and then moving to a large house in Brockenhurst. The Brockenhurst years were a busy and somewhat difficult time for Brenda.  She had four children to raise and care for and embarked on a new career as a book-keeper.  But she still found time to ook after the vulnerable: in particular, giving literacy lessons to young adults who had not properly learned to read at school.  After many years, when the children had all left home and Jim and Brenda neared retirement, they decided to move house again.  They might have stayed in the New Forest or even returned to their roots in London, but instead decided to head west, to a place many people regard as the middle of nowhere but locals know to be the centre of the universe: Litton Cheney. I think that the twenty three years Brenda lived in Litton were the happiest of her life. She found a depth of friendship and community here that she hadn’t experienced elsewhere.  And in saying that mean no disrespect to those friends of hers who have come here today from Brockenhurst and elsewhere.  Perhaps this is a place in tune with her values: of plain speaking and looking after one another and particularly the vulnerable.  We know that, only a few weeks before she became ill, she was still cooking and delivering cakes to infirm neighbours. For much of this period, Brenda was travelling the world with Jim. At least, this is how it seemed to my family, as we received regular postcards from the couple from every corner of the world.  But Brenda was always adventurous.  When the children were young, the family would drive west each summer holidays – and it was always west - to pitch a tent in a field somewhere and then spend a fortnight exploring the dramatic cliffs, bays and beaches of Britain’s West coast. Brenda loved walking. With or without Jim, she explored every footpath in the locality. The couple also trekked in more exotic locations, with a group of ramblers who christened themselves the Marrakites, after the place they first met: Marrakesh.  After she died, her family discovered a letter that Brenda had recently written to a magazine, fiercely arguing for locals to preserve the footpaths in their vicinity, despite government neglect.  It is worth quoting an excerpt of what she wrote, as here we see Brenda in rhetorical top gear, fighting for her beliefs: “Have we become so used to our politicians bribing us with grants and privileges that we cannot see where our interests lie?  For better or worse, this Government has decided to stop spending, and many of its erstwhile activities are being abandoned. …In the meantime, are we to cut off our noses to spite our faces? Do we want to walk these footpaths or not?  They were kept alive before the Government took a hand and we’ll want to walk after they’ve gone.” Brenda and Jim’s marriage, like all marriages, had its ups and downs.  But, when they looked back together on their fifty plus years of marriage, they both agreed that there was nobody else whom they would or could have spent their life with. Although we all knew the seriousness of her illness, we were still surprised how suddenly she passed away. But that was the way she wanted it.  She told us that she felt she had lived a full life, surrounded by loving family and friends.  She was not afraid of death, only of a long illness, which fortunately she was spared.  She died peacefully in her own home, surrounded by family. And almost until the end, she was still able to walk to the bottom of her garden, to gaze for the last time at the lovely view of the Bride Valley and the hills beyond. There is one last thing.  As many of you will know, Brenda did not believe in God. But she did believe in this little church in Litton Cheney, how important it is in providing a heart to the Litton community.  It was her wish for there to be a service here, in her memory, and we are grateful to the church for allowing this to take place. When she was in hospital, a family member mischievously asked her whether now wouldn’t be an opportune  time to reconsider her atheism. “No” she said firmly. She had always lived her life according to one principle: “be true to oneself”.  Or, in the words of Polonius, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “This above all – to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” As we know, Brenda could growl and snap, but she would rarely bite.  And if her steadfastness, integrity and outspokenness made Brenda a few enemies, it made her many more friends, many of whom are gathered here today.  I implore you all not just to mourn her passing but also to celebrate her full and happy life. That is how she would have wanted it.

Charlie Trott lived in the Village for over 60 years. The following tribute to Charlie was given by Tony Goverd at St Mary’s Church, Litton Cheney, on14 th July 2014. Today we give thanks to God for the life of Charlie, remembering the man we knew, his friendship, good humour and love of steam. Charlie, husband to Pearl, Dad to Roslyn, Elizabeth, Micky and Alison, was born on the 9 th of August 1922 in the village of Cannington, Somerset, the son of Pearcie and Effie Trott. He was actually named and baptised Thomas Charles - an old family name. He had a younger brother, Bernard, who predeceased him. The family moved to live at Wells, where father Pearcie was a steam lorry driver for the Somerset County Council, driving both Sentinels and Fodens. Charlie was never to forget his first experiences of being driven in a steam powered vehicle. The fascination and memory of the power of steam was to remain with him. He was educated at the Wells Blue School, a grammar school. He was fond of the outdoors and a member of the Wells Sea Scout Troop. On leaving school he obtained an apprenticeship with Westlands at Yeovil. Following the Battle of Britain major production of Spitfires was switched to Westlands. Although in a reserved occupation, assembling aircraft held no attraction for him and he managed to get himself conscripted to serve in the Royal Navy. After basic training and gunnery school, Charlie joined a crew of 1200 as a gunner on a new steam turbined aircraft carrier HMS Unicorn. Unicorn, a Repair Carrier, had 35 operational aircraft. The ship took part in U-Boat patrols in the Northwest Approaches and convoy escort duties between the Home Fleet base at Scapa Flow and Gibraltar and Malta where he manned the ship's anti-aircraft guns against continued air attacks. Unicorn also provided support for the amphibious landings at Salerno. Fitted with 4 twin turrets of 4 inch guns, she was the only aircraft carrier during the war to use her guns to pound shore installations. After transfer to the Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee, Ceylon, there followed patrols in the Indian Ocean with visits to Bombay. Ordered to Durban, South Africa, the ship was refitted and sent to join the Pacific Fleet where she was dive-bombed by a Japanese Kamikaze pilot. Charlie lost shipmates when a gun turret caught fire. It was only the sudden list of the ship that saved his turret. With preparations under way for the invasion of Japan, Unicorn was used in a support role, providing air cover at the invasion of Okinawa. During her service, hundreds of aircraft sorties were flown from the carrier, sadly not without loss. Charlie enjoyed his naval service. He was a great storyteller, mindful of events experienced. With great humour, he would recall the happy times and of his escapades ashore. Ever resourceful, whilst ashore in Durban, he managed to arrange his own sight-seeing trips when he became the driver of a jeep actually allocated for officer use. A similar situation was to avail itself when the ship made harbour in Brisbane some months later. It was in Durban that South African soprano, Perla Siedle Gibson, 'The Lady in White', sang to troop and warships as they came and went from harbour. Her performances as she responded to requests for popular songs were a highlight for many visiting ships. Years later, when relating the experience, Charlie was heard to jest: “I wish she would come and sing to me”! When peace was declared on the 15* August 1945, Unicorn was at the Manus naval-base in the Admiralty Islands and eventually docked in Sydney. There, with thousands of matelots ashore, including Americans and Australians, he described the situation as “lively”! He recalled with gratitude the overwhelming hospitality he enjoyed in Australia and, as ever, had many a tale to tell. The Unicorn was eventually nominated to return to the UK and arrived at Devonport on the 16 th January 1946. Charlie's Navy days were over but the experience remained for ever in his memory. On demob, he did not return to work at Westlands but took a job as a vehicle mechanic with The Bristol Omnibus Company at its Wells depot. He was to recount that working there, especially after nationalisation in 1948, could well have been the basis for the eventual script for the sitcom 'On the Buses', complete with an inspector that could double for 'Smiler'. The time had come to move on. In 1953 there was a total career change and approach to work. Charlie, Pearl and the family moved to Litton Cheney where he took a job as a painter and decorator with Fry and Son. At the time Charles Fry was not only a local builder but also an undertaker. With just 6 employees, Charlie found himself called upon to undertake a number of tasks including that of pallbearer. In the 1950's and 60's West Dorset was in a time warp - this suited Charlie. A Somerset man by birth, he became Dorset by adoption. He worked for the Frys for 34 years during which time he undertook numerous specialised tasks, such as wallpapering the hall at Kingston Russell House with hand blocked paper specially imported from China. The firm grew and Charlie became known for the quality of his work. He became somewhat of a father figure, offering advice and guidance, especially to young apprentices - a 'Mr Fixit'. Even after he retired his services were still called upon, a real friend to the village where he lived for over 60 years. In 1960 Charlie and the late Ron Wilcox acquired a Burrell single cylinder general purpose traction engine, 'Duke of Windsor’, which, built in 1895, was in a sorry state. There was much shaking of heads that the engine would ever be restored. Although it took over two years to achieve working order, as engineer on the project, Charlie proved his mettle. The engine subsequently proved a great attraction. Charlie and Ron often took part, with Dr Giles Romanes from Portesham and his Wallace and Stevens engine 'Goliath', in mini-rallies, with suitable 'watering holes' in mind. Charlie merged well with the other characters who at that time were also steam locomotion enthusiasts. Over the years, the engine attended numerous venues including Litton Fete, Bridport Boxing Day Pram Race, Gore Cross Rally, Weymouth Carnival, Yeovil Festival of Transport, Yesterdays Farming and 'Stourpaine'…. the list goes on. In 1967 the Burrell engine and associated threshing machine was commissioned for use in the filming of a scene in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’, directed by John Schlesinger and starring, amongst others; Julie Christie and Alan Bates. Three weeks were spent by Charlie and Ron in filming, only for a few minutes to be shown on screen. However, the engine and its operators became stars. In 1968 Charlie became a founder member of the Dorset Steam and Historic Vehicle Club which in 1969 combined with Michael Oliver to put on a steam rally at Stourpaine that was eventually to develop into the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Charlie and Ron took part in the Steam Fair with the Burrell engine and threshing rig over a number of years until the ‘Duke of Windsor’ was sold. Charlie, looking for another challenge, acquired an Aveling and Porter Steam Roller which he restored to working order and named 'Charlie's Darling'. This was sold in 1996. Pearl was very supportive of his hobby – by no means a total 'steam widow’. He acquired 'Roller Man's' vintage caravan, which he refurbished so that she could accompany him, and they both enjoyed the 'Stourpaine experience' and other day shows in comfort. Regular in his attendance at the Steam Fair, he did the rounds, always prepared to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise. He was never without a project. More recently he totally rebuilt and modified a vehicle powered by an American ‘Mason' steam car engine. So, for over 50 years, Charlie was a 'steam man’. My old friend, yours has been a life lived to the full, with love abounding for Pearl and the family. During the last difficult year, your strength of character ever present, you expressed a wish to stow your hammock and so it was the Lord called you to muster. You lived life with good humour giving many a helping hand along the way. Your philosophy on life is perhaps summed up in this prayer, words couched in the vernacular - copied for me many years ago by Pearl using her calligraphy skills. Give us Lord a bit o'sun, a bit o'work and a bit o'fun. Give us, in all the struggle and sputter, our daily bread and a bit o'butter. Give us health, our keep to make and a bit o'spare for others’ sake; Give us too a bit o'song and a tale and a book to help us along. Give us Lord a chance to be our goodly best, brave, wise and free; Our goodly best for ourselves and others ‘til all men learn to live as brothers. Until we meet again - God Bless.

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HMS Unicorn was an aircraft repair ship and light aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy in the late 1930s. She was completed during World War II and provided air cover over the amphibious landing at Salerno, Italy, in September 1943. The ship was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean at the end of the year. Unicorn supported the aircraft carriers of the fleet on their operations until the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) was formed in November 1944. She was transferred to Australia in early 1945 to support the BPF's operations during Operation Iceberg, the Allied invasion of Okinawa in May. To shorten the time required to replenish the BPF's carriers, the ship was based in the Admiralty Islands and in the Philippine Islands until the Japanese surrender in August. Unicorn was decommissioned and placed in reserve when she returned to the UK in January 1946. The ship was recommissioned in 1949 to support the light carrier of the Far East Fleet, as the Eastern Fleet had been redesignated after the end of World War II. She was unloading aircraft and equipment in Singapore in June 1950 when the Korean War began. She spent most of the war ferrying aircraft, troops, stores and equipment in support of Commonwealth operations in Korea. Unicorn supported other carriers during operations in Korea, but she became the only aircraft carrier to conduct a shore bombardment with her guns during wartime when she attacked North Korean observers on the coast during the war. The ship returned to the UK after the end of the war and was again placed in reserve. She was listed for disposal in 1958 and sold for scrap in 1959.

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The following eulogy was given by Isobel, his daughter, at a celebration of his life on Thursday the 2nd of February 2023:

Brenda 1934 - 2013  The following eulogy was given at a celebration of her life on Monday the 19th of August 2013: