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Obituary - Kevin Carter

Issue: 09/04/2021

090421-peter

On the 30th March, friends and family said their final farewell to a true character of the dog world, Kev Carter. 
Kev would have enjoyed his final send off, to see and meet all those that took time out in their day to attend and stand outside the crematorium in Chesterfield, especially those with their dogs of different breeds. 
The service was so personal and conducted by David Hartley, himself a dog man and lay preacher who had bred and sold a Saluki to Kev years ago. 
Kev was born and raised in the mining village of Bolsover and he was proud to be from Bosa, as the locals call it. He grew up with his grandparents and always had a fascination not only with dogs but all things about the countryside. Armed with a bottle of pop and sandwiches he’d be off all day, avoiding school! 
Later on in life work should have replaced school, but that was a four letter word to Kev. However bills had to be paid and so a variety of different jobs were undertaken, working on the fun fairs, a stint as a coal delivery man until one day he drove just a bit to quickly around a corner in ‘Bosa’ and lost an entire lorry load of coal, bags and all, before sneaking back into the depot in the hope no one noticed. There were some complaints later (but not from the locals who, having seen the free coal, did not leave any trace on the street at all, not even the dust!). Kev was asked to leave on the spot but was immediately re-employed to work as a miner.
Being an outdoor person who loved nothing more than a good walk in the countryside around Bosa, always with a dog of some description, Kev took on various other job roles over time. He became at one time a traffic warden but again was given his marching orders because he did not hand out one single parking ticket. 
However, it was his eventual career in adult care that Kev finally found his enjoyment, working out in the community and later in supported living units with the elderly, with people with learning difficulties, mental health conditions and the disabled. Kev excelled in his chosen career and he soon became a firm favourite not just with his work mates but with the residents. He recalled once being called out on his day off as one of the residents in a supported unit had locked themselves in their room and had told staff they wanted to end their life. Kev knocked on the door and said his famous words, ‘Is that kettle on?’ He loved a cuppa and especially enjoyed it that day. 
Kev’s attitude was always to be positive and to embrace life, ‘It’s for living’ he’d say. 
The big love of his life was his long time partner Ann, who is the mother of his four children and recent grandparent to one. Kev met Ann at a dog show and they later shared the Clearwing affix for many years, right up to Ann’s untimely death some years ago. Those who were close to Kev all agree he never really came to terms with the loss of his soulmate. 
Kev and Ann, under the Clearwing affix, owned many different breeds of dogs during the years and shared their family home with a variety of different animals. Their first love was always the Saluki, and they made up Champions in that breed. 
Other breeds included Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherd Dogs, Large Munsterlanders and Whippet, as well as various cross breed family pets. 
Kev awarded CCs in Salukis, though he never really pushed himself to judge but he could often be seen around the ring observing lots of different breeds. In fact he was looking forward to judging Cairn Terriers at a breed club open show. Kev enjoyed attending any breed seminars and loved to tell people that while he had never put his hands on a Glen of Imaal Terrier he passed and I failed!
After the passing of Ann, Kev wanted to try something new and chose the Terrier group. Kev became well known around the terrier circles for his now famous Alfie, Ch Digelsa Declaration, the top winning Manchester Terrier in the breed’s history. 
Kev kept Alfie in fit hard condition and was happy to sit ring side and watch Alfie’s breeder handle him to his record and top honours, not just in the breed ring but Best in shows, a terrier group win and too many to mention Terrier group placements. 
Looking to try something different, Kev’s next preferred breed was a Smooth Fox Terrier so off to Ireland we went to the a known kennel of smooths. Sean arrived and he became a partnership for Kev and myself, and I know he was so looking forward to handling him in the ring. Alas the pandemic and later Kev’s illness prevented this from happening. Sean will remain as planned in shared names and Alfie is currently also here with me. 
Kev always said he found the terrier fraternity suited his own personality. He said that ‘they are a welcoming lot’ who, like him, enjoy to chat and win or lose make the most of a good old natter and laughter at the shows. 
Characters like Kev will be missed, he always had a story to tell and he was indeed a very knowledgeable man who on occasions acted the fool, but he was no fool, knowledge and family is all that you need’ he’d say. 
Keep the faith my friend, it was a pleasure to have known you all of these years. Now united with your darling Ann, whose name you called out in the end surrounded by members of your devoted family. 
Sherril Goodwin 


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