Tributes paid to popular personality Edwin, 78

11:00am Thursday 8th May 2008

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EDWIN Carter, one of Malton and Norton's best known personalities, has died at the age of 78 after a short illness in Scarborough General Hospital.

He was renowned as a leading musician in both the Malton White Star and Swinton Excelsior Bands and as an amateur actor with The Nomads.

Mr Carter was born in Atholl Square, Norton, the son of a watchmaker, and attended Norton Boys School. He joined the White Star Band when he was just 11 when its numbers depleted due to players serving in the war.

His son-in-law, Greg Christie, said Mr Carter went on to become an accomplished player of all brass instruments and became conductor of the band in the 1970s. He was later bandsman, a position he held until two years ago.

Mr Carter also played with the Swinton Band and taught dozens of young players through the White Star and Norton Youth Brass.

"He was still playing until two months ago," said Mr Christie. "Edwin was an enthusiastic conductor who loved marches and summer playing at seaside resorts."

He joined St Peter's Players, later The Nomads, in the late 1940s and held every position in the society, and was president at the time of his death.

"He appeared in more than 50 productions, taking parts from dashing young men to mid-life crisis hippies and octogenarian butlers," said Mr Christie.

He regularly appeared on stage with his son, Phil, and grand-daughter April, and directed more than a dozen plays from traditional productions to farce.

Mr Carter trained as a plumber, and his National Service was deferred until he finished his apprenticeship. He joined REME and then transferred to the Royal Artillery where, after a serious illness brought on by malnutrition, he was awarded double rations.

After National Service he became a glazier and plumber with British Rail completing 30 years service before taking over the Peasey Hills fish and chip shop which he ran for many years.

His brothers Geoff and Les and his sons, Phil and Andrew, were all bandsmen in the White Star Band.

In the 1970s he started the Edwin Carter Trio which had a long run at Malton Royal British Legion Club. He also played the drums at many other venues in Ryedale, with a guitarist and pianist.

Mr Christie added: "Edwin was widely respected for his musical teaching ability and possessed a personality which matched his huge frame. Few people in Malton and Norton would not recognise him."

He was a prominent figure at the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Milton Rooms and the Malton Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

He and his wife, Marie, were married in 1951 and lived in Vine Street and later Ryedale Close, Norton, before moving to Kirby Misperton in retirement. They had three children, Elaine, Andrew and Phil, and two grandchildren, April and Tom.

Malton White Star Band, which celebrated its centenary in 1999, and Swinton Excelsior Band will play at his funeral which is being held at St Mary's Priory, Old Malton on Friday at 11am. It will be conducted by his long-time friend, Canon John Manchester.