Age: Mid seventies

Lives: 25 Piper Street.

Appearance: 5’ 4” tall, round and rosy. Improbably dark hair, dyed but not harshly and it suits her. Green eyes.

Edna is a cheerful woman, very organised and takes everything in her stride. She rarely complains although not in the best of health.

Family: Husband: Charlie

            Son: Peter

Background: Edna was born illegitimately and adopted by a couple that lived in Upper Milliwick. She spent a happy childhood there surrounded by other children that also came to regard Albert and Florrie Carter as their true parents. Albert ran a small market garden and although they were not well off, they were comfortably provided for. His wife was strict but also patient and kind and Edna adored her.

When the young Charlie Smith ran his bike into the ditch that ran along the front of their property after over indulging at a local pub, he lay there undiscovered until Albert drove his delivery van out the next morning. Brought into the house, Charlie made Edna blush by gazing at her intently as she cleaned him up. Far from being openly flirtatious, the concussed and hungover Charlie was merely trying to focus properly and was concentrating hard on not being sick in front of her but nevertheless Edna’s heart beat that little bit faster.

Charlie was Florrie Carter’s nephew and Edna was not only shocked by her sudden and unexpected feelings for someone she had known forever but also concerned that what she was feeling and the fact that when Charlie had thanked her the next time they met, his kiss on the cheek, perilously close to her lips and considerably longer than a peck, was somehow wicked. When Florrie took the unusually quiet Edna to one side and managed to find out what was the matter, she gently reminded her that she and Charlie were not actually blood relatives and they would ‘Neither break man’s law nor God’s if they kissed all day’. Edna’s deep blush and delighted smile made Florrie laugh but Edna knew what her answer would be if Charlie did ask her out.

Edna worked as a cook in the canteen of a food processing plant in Woodbury until her marriage to Charlie. They moved into a small cottage in Upper Milliwick where their son was born a year later. Sadly, three miscarriages followed and they were advised by their GP that to risk Edna’s health with a further pregnancy would be unwise.

When Charlie announced that they were looking for a cook at The Manor House in Milliwick where he worked as gardener and handyma,n and that ‘the missus’ had summoned him to ask if his wife was looking for a position, Edna was more than taken aback. Her skill as a cook was well known but that knowledge of her ability had reached Lady Wick’s ears was a surprise to her. She was convinced that Charlie had got it wrong or that his employers were not aware that they had a young child but he assured her that that was not the case and furthermore, the job would come with living quarters and would save them the rent on their current home. Charlie was enthusiastic but Edna pointed out that she lacked the experience to do ‘fancy stuff’ and saw nothing but drawbacks especially as far as looking after Peter was concerned. She wrote to Beatrice, Lady Wick, thanking her for her kind consideration but declining her offer.

Very shortly afterwards, Lady Wick arrived at their neat but tiny house, waving Edna’s letter as she swept in, demanding to know what ‘all this nonsense’ was about. Edna bridled at the intrusion and without a mind for the security of Charlie’s job, asked her who she thought she was to come barging into her home and told her she was glad she had turned the chance down if that was how rude she thought she could be and get away with it. To which Beatrice chuckled and said ‘I think we would get on famously’, which indeed they did. Charlie’s astonishment when he came home that evening to see his ‘la-di-dah’ employer sprawled on the living room floor with his pyjama clad son and pushing toy cars along the hearth was exceeded only by her insistence that she be allowed to read Peter his bedtime story.

Edna worked at The Manor House for almost forty years until Beatrice’s death shortly before what would have been her ninety-third birthday. In private they had become great friends and Edna blessed the day that Hugo, Lord Wick was entertained to lunch in the executive dining room at the food processing company.

Currently: Edna and Charlie were able to buy the house in Piper Street with the money that Beatrice had left them in her will to repay them for their kindness and devoted care during the last few years of her life. With the remainder of the bequest bringing in a small income, they are quite comfortably off. Edna now cooks for the Women’s Institute market stall.

EDNA SMITH nee Carter

Used to be cook/housekeeper at The Manor House

Married to Charlie

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