Carole Martin (28 Jul 1945 - 15 Feb 2019)

In loving memory of Carole Martin who sadly passed away on 15th February 2019, aged 73 years.
A loving mother to her sons Mel and Karl, Caring sister to Terry, and a wonderful grandmother to Josh, Harry and Ben.
A good friend to many over the years, who will be sadly missed.

Carlole Martin’s eulogy

Dawn 28 July 1945 - Dusk 15th February 2019

Born 28th July 1945

Mother Mrs Doris Mason, formally Winstanley, (Widowed)

The youngest of five children: sisters Margret, Olga, June and brother Terry.

Name: Denise Carole,

Adopted by best friends, Winnifrid and William Arther Stevens on 23rd September 1946, prior to Doris returning to her home town of Birkenhead, as Winnie and Bill could not have children of their own, due to injuries sustained during his service in the RCT during the war.
Living on John street then Copeland street, giving birth to Melvin 19th April 1966 and Karl 26th January 1968 before moving to Lord street in Allenton when the railway cottages where knocked down as slums in 1969, losing our father Johnny Brough in 1971 in accident at work, he was a brick layer by trade, one week before they were due to be married.
During this time until we moved to Sinfin avenue Shelton lock, working and bringing two boys up by herself, she got to know and befriended all the local characters on the street and surrounding neighbourhood, back then communities looked out for each other.

Most summer evenings and school holidays, mum would gather all the local kids up and take them over the Muncipal sports ground at the back of our house, sort them out in to teams and play rounder’s, sorting out disputes, it became so popular that other parents also joined in, and most summer night’s there would be a knock at our door, gangs of kids wanting to go play rounder’s.
1979 We moved to Sinfin Avenue and mum took a job at International Combustion as a technical stores assistant.
where she worked for six years until she took a job at David Nidd’s jewellers, where she stayed for 26 years and turned David’s business round, and was well respected by everyone in the trade,
Around this time 1981 our Granma Winnie passed away, during the last eight years at David’s, mum decided she needed another challenge and went part time so that she could work at the Derby Chamber of trade as an NVQ assessor, this is where school leavers with learning difficulties and few or no qualifications could be placed in jobs, either Retail, Manufacturing or learn a trade, and mum would motivate and asses them, she was so good at it, her students won the best student three years running at the national awards.

Still striving to better herself, she left the chamber of trade, and went to the University of Derby to gain qualifications to enable her to teach courses at Derby College, finally slowing down and getting rid of her Reliant Robin, she left David Nidd’s and started working for Rolls Royce, at their newly built engine plant facility, pinning engine blades, she was able to walk her two dogs, Golly and May for two hours a day then take a steady short cycle ride to and from work, until she finally retired at 65 years old.

Mum was always interested in politics and current affairs, and became good friends with renowned Author John Le Carrie, (Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy, The Spy who came in from the Cold, and the Constant Gardner) to name but a few, he was also dealing with Alzheimers, but corresponded regularly, sending mum signed copies of newly released books that they had discussed, mum delighted in reading his letters to me when I visited her.
She was a member of the T.E Lawrence society, and whilst a student at the Derby College of Art attended many Ban the bomb rally’s, a bit of a rebel at heart. ‘’Yeah a real sofa Che Guevara’’!!! lol

I think it is fair to say our Mother has lived a short but full life, overcoming hardships when confronted by them, seizing opportunities as they arose, she loved the simple things in life, the understated, but also appreciated and enjoyed the extravagant, she has made so many friends and touched the hearts of so many, and will be dearly missed.

Mel and Karl