We were gathered together yesterday, on the very sad and unexpected occasion to say our final heartfelt farewells to our dear Brenda….a devoted wife, and widow to her dearest Nat, mother to Sacha and grandmother to Georgia, Isabel and Olivia…..and demonstrated by the numbers present…a true, loyal and generous friend to all of us.

Racing was a passion for Brenda, as was the warmth of the friendships she made, enjoyed and developed in the Sport.

Animals were also her constant companions…..the race-horses….of varying talents, a series of different and often unknown cross-breeds, cats, dogs, even humble bumble bees, and over the years, strays and high-bred racing champions found a luxury home, and much love and attention in number 5 Cavendish Avenue.

It must be a first… when an invite to a funeral suggested…..’No flowers…..donations please to a local dogs-home!

But that was ‘our’ Brenda……the Brenda that we all knew and loved…..a truly unique and fun person….and a very highly talented artist and illustrator, a celebrated painter…..a real lover of life!

I first met Brenda in the late 1960’s, she was the wife of my boss, and was always connected and supportive with the then ‘family’ business…..a great asset to Nat…..I had progressed through his company in the early days, and encouraged, supported and eventually, some 20 years later, challenged and persuaded by him….urging me to strike out and seek the benefits of ‘self-employment’, which I did, and it was a turning-point in my own life, for which I remain ever grateful to them both…..for as we all know…..behind and alongside that great man Nat…..there was Brenda!

By the late 1980’s, thanks to the Fenton’s support, I was one of the owners of Crockfords, along with Gary, another protege of the family with his own ‘Our Price Records’.

From that time, my wife Ewa, and I, enjoyed a very different and more social and enjoyable relationship with both Nat and Brenda…..lunches, dinners, celebrating Christmases at the Clermont, racing, cricket at Lords, a trip to Barbados, racing and gambling in Deauville and Cannes with Roger Moore and Omar Sharif, and of course Monte Carlo, with Brenda and Nat hosting a Variety Club reception, dining with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, before joining the Baccarat and Chemin-de-fer tables in the elegant Salle Prive in the famous Casino.

Nat and Brenda were also a ‘Royal’ couple, side by side, original creators of the stellar reputation earned for opening and operating the finest gaming clubs in London including the Ritz Club….introducing the Ritz Club Charity Trophy, officially launched by The Princess Royal in 1979, for racing at Royal Ascot, York, Goodwood, Aintree and Cheltenham, and leading the overseas ‘Challenge’ version in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, with the help of Lord John Oaksey, and our first Ritz Club team of jockeys, Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer, Pat Eddery and Freddy Head……..and finally owning ‘Le Cercle’ at Les Ambassadeurs….at the time the premier gaming club in London….and it was definitely a double-act….and a real touch of class!

Brenda’s natural elegance and beauty, her irresistible personality, her intense love of life, her spirit, her no-nonsense attitude, combined with her steely grit and Yorkshire pride, her nouse, and determination, ‘The girl from Hull’, as she described herself to me, cut through any obstacles and problems, blending perfectly with her husband’s superb business skills….two dominant Leo’s, with birthdays just 4 days apart!

For the last couple of years, due to Covid, we rarely saw Brenda, but we stayed in touch.

She called about a week before her untimely passing, asking for help with an upcoming interview she was planning to give, based on her interesting life story, her enjoyment of racing, and the great company she kept with her many friends in the Sport of Kings….The subject of gaming was also mentioned and at Brenda’s request, I was happy to help with that aspect….and more!

It was definitely not a memory thing….Brenda was still ‘as bright as a button’ and remembered everything….she was really on top form! She had also  just recently been searching for more details of her very early life in Hull, and was excited to discover new connections and old friends in her family which included a planned meeting with Tom Courtenay a fellow Hullian, Brenda’s father and Sir Tom’s father were great friends….that was just the beginning….Brenda was ‘on the case’…..next stop was the Garrick Club!

After a couple of hours reminiscing, relating tales from the turf to the gaming tables, winners and losers, most of Simon Nott’s questions were answered, ready for the interview proper the following week, and we all adjourned for a local lunch at the Ivy……a table for five on the pavement!

Brenda, Sacha, Jenny McCririck, Brenda’s very close friend, plus Simon and myself.

My fellow diners and others will confirm….that in a bustling St John’s Wood High Street on that warm and sunny day, Thursday 15 September, Brenda Dorothy Fenton, elegant in pink, had rarely looked better, nor in such high spirits and happy….clearly and demonstrably in the best of health.

‘I am 92 you know’ she proclaimed to passers-by and other tables…..’no really I am 92’….her personality and ‘joie de vivre’ was truly evident for all present to witness on that day…..smiles and laughter all round!

This was the image of dear Brenda that I will treasure and remember, and I know  everyone will do the same with their own selected memory of a very loyal and true friend….a real Lady…in her prime….a true artist in every sense, and always a lot of fun!

But just seven days later, we heard the devastating news…..suddenly and shockingly….the news that we have all, family and friends, suddenly lost this very special person, this unique Lady, this mother and grandmother, and to all of us a precious friend, taken from us in a tragic accident at home, and many, including myself, are faced with still having to come to terms with this, particularly so soon after that lunch at the Ivy, and on the very day of her formal live interview with Simon.

In normal circumstances of declining health, in family or friend, we would have had that early warning, or sensed something, and been better prepared…but there was no early warning…..quite the opposite…….Brenda was still a strong and lively force, it was a terrible accident…..a tragedy……and a great shock to us all.

In my honest opinion…..Brenda’s century and the King’s telegram were in sight…..just a furlong to go….an odds-on, sure-fire winner….and then this.

We pray that she is now at peace and reunited with her devoted husband.

Rest in peace and love dear Brenda….you were truly a very special Lady….your family and all your friends will treasure the memories of times spent together, and remember you with great love and affection…..and I know that your beautiful grandchildren will have learnt from the positive, creative and very generous way that you lived your life to the full….always optimistic….to mimic Captain Tom….’tomorrow will be a good day’……but dear Brenda, very sadly we will have to spend it without you.

Brenda Fenton……’The girl from Hull became a Lady’……and enriched all of our lives….May God bless you and keep you.

xxx