Graham & Janet Carter

Graham Carter

Graham and Janet Carter ran The Black Horse public house from 1982 to 1991

Janet Carter was the Village Hall Committee secretary from 1995 to at least 1999

1983 - Hallmark report - DARTS MARATHON at The Black Horse.

In February 1983 the Landlord Graham Carter and no doubt Janet, his wife, organised a Charity event, a 24 hour marathon for the darts team at The Black Horse, to raise money for "Merryfields", the Bucks County Council home for mentally handicapped children. On Friday evening the members and supporters arrived with blankets and lucky mascots. From 8 pm onwards two teams of six took it in turns, an hour on and an hour's rest to play non stop until 8 pm the next day.

BREAKFAST. Refreshments were laid on and at 6 am breakfast was cooked and served by a couple of local volunteers.

RADIO INTERVIEW. On Saturday afternoon a telephone interview went out on Radio Oxford.

£50 WAGER. One member who had moved house on the Friday won a substantial bonus for the charity by winning a wager of £50, by staying on his feet until the end.

MONEY RAISED. 8pm Saturday arrived, the raffle was drawn and Graham Carter, who had played throughout, thanked them all. £700 was raised and will go for a soft play area for the children at the home.

MORE EVENTS

During the 1980's The Carters staged more events. In 1986 The Black Horse darts marathon raised £1500 for Merryfields Hostel for the Mentally Handicapped Children. Further dart's marathons raised £1000 for Merryfields Home, and another raised £1216 for the Natalie Fund at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Merryfields Home.

Comment in Hallmark August 1986. Beat This. "One of the most novel offers of help the Village Hall has ever received was put into operaton by charity motivated Graham Carter, landlord of The Black Horse. By nomination the Village Hall Roof Fund for the Brewer's Community Support promotion. This means that for a given period every pint he sells a percentage from the brewers is given to help boost our fund.

Hallmark November 1986. Message from Graham & Janet Carter

This is the time of the year when all our thoughts turn to others, we at The Black Horse would like to mention all those people who have supported us so generously over the past year, during such times as the Darts Marathon, players, helpers and donors – the Village Hall Roofing Fund all those who partook making it possible to hand over a small contribution to a Fund which should benefit the community.

We try where possible to introduce a variety into our Christmas and New Year arrangements. The Pheasant Supper by now an established firm favourite is often so well patronised as to enjoy two sittings, this is a three-course meal which includes a bottle of wine, in informal surroundings on a Sunday evening, this year December 14th about eightish. Please book to avoid disappointment. This event will commence a week of fund raising of various forms, culminating in our Grand Draw and bottle smash. We are always surprised at the generosity of people during this week (as well as all the rest of the year). We have, at the Black Horse always given our support to children - with the one exception of the Village Hall Roof - and the support has been mainly for the Merryfields Mentally Handicapped Childrens Home at Cressex, High Wycombe, providing items for their comfort i.e. parties, toys, sun beds etc.

By popular request we will open Christmas Day Lunch Time 12 – 1.30 pm and on Boxing Day for the normal lunch time session only. No food will be available from Christmas Eve to the New Year - as the cook puts her feet up!

Our usual New Years Eve Party will herald a year in which we wish everyone good health and happiness and trust that we can better the sum of £1500 to the children in need.

Hallmark April 1988. Congatulations. To the Black Horse Darts Team on another great marathon raising approximately £1200 for the Merryfields Home for mentally handicapped children

Hallmark October 1989. Goodbye and Welcome.

We say goodbye and thank you to Graham and Janet Carter, the popular licensee of The Black Horse, for running, for eight years, a communitty oriented establishment and wish them well in their new life.

And welcome to our new licensee and manager and manageress.

Graham Carter died in 2015. Lynne Comley, the current Landlady of the Black Horse wrote the following obituary that was published in Hallmark

"It was a really sad time at the end of 2015 when we lost a special friend and ex landlord of the Black Horse, Lacey Green.

Husband to Janet, dad to Amanda and Mark, and grandad to Wills and Sam; I have known Graham for many years as we both lived in Chinnor and then of course I came to the Black Horse. When I took the pub over I didn't realise that Graham had been the landlord as well.

Graham loved his cricket and golf and tried to play golf until he was unable to do so and watch as many games of cricket as he could. Even when he was unwell he would get Janet to drive him up to the sports centre and he would sit in his car and watch the game. He used to play crib for me for many years and was my vice-captain for many of them. When he was he landlord of the Black Horse he started the Black Horse golf society which is still going strong today with many members. We have had many a good night in the pub with Graham; he came to most of our functions, Burns Nights, New Years' Eves etc. A great quiz player as well; if we had a quiz it was a really good thing if you had Graham on your team. In fact in his own words, when I was in his team were " oh my god we have got Lynne". Just proves how good I was!!!!! And how pleased he was at having me in it. He also used to do the questions with Janet if our quiz master was away.

Graham and Janet also did a lot of fund raising for charities: Air Ambulance and the Millennium Village Hall, Lacey Green to name a couple.

Graham was a true gentleman and a good friend with a lively sense of humour who will be missed but never forgotten.! Lynne