Fred Parker
Fred Parker


In 1997, 12 years before he died, a 'This Is Your Life' event was organised to celebrate Fred Parker's 80th birthday. They would have said that he was from the Rhondda Valley, had walked all the way to Bratton searching for work and was called up to the RAF during World War Two.

They probably remembered he lived in Turnpike Cottage, kept bees, sold honey, and regularly won the prize for most points at the Bratton Flower Show with his flowers and vegetables. Fred was employed as Mrs de Udy's gardener at Windy Gates for many years, meaning she was also enjoyed being a regular prize winner. He'd tell small children that a giant slept in her garden and invite them to hunt for sweets the giant had spilled. They might have recalled that in the Amateur Dramatic Society, he was described as having “outstanding ability”, and how his deep booming voice was also regularly put to use as MC at many events, including fund raising, Spelling Bees, and quizzes.

They could have reminisced how, in the heart of traditionally Conservative Wiltshire, Fred was the proud Chairman of the local Labour Party, booking his Summer holiday to spend the week watching the Labour Party conference on TV. And who could ever forget the Labour Party Children's Christmas Parties at the Jubilee Hall, where 100 children ate, played games, watched films, received a present from Santa, and were led in “riotous” community singing by Fred.

They must have remembered how Fred's 28 years on the Parish Council until 1971 saw him as Chairman at a time Bratton considered its future identity. He also campaigned to boycott South African goods, protested the closure of Imber, and led 'Plant a Tree in '73' in Bratton. Fred was still working in that same job at 90, now living in a bungalow built for him by Mrs de Udy, and given the Welsh name 'Dan y Bryn' - 'Below the Hill'.




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Bratton History Association.

The Bratton History Association aims to provide all those curious about local history with an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and discover more about the history of Bratton and Wiltshire. Activities include monthly meetings, talks by professional historians, visits to places of interest to historians, and our own local history project.

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