Mr Robert Edward Carter

Published on 21/10/2024

Mr Robert Edward Carter, JP, DL
2nd December 1922 - 21st October 1974

Mr R E Carter, known to his friends as "Bob", died fifty years ago at the age of 52. He took over the R G Carter Group in September 1966 on the death of his father, the founder, Mr R G Carter. Educated at Norwich School, Bob Carter joined the Firm immediately afterwards as an apprentice carpenter in 1938. Called up in Wartime, Bob Carter served as captain with the Royal Engineers in Keyna. After the War he studied surveying whilst working with the family Firm. He married Mary Russell in 1951 with whom he had four children: Jane, Robert, Louise and John.

As well as his business and family commitments, Bob Carter always found time to devote to public service. In 1949 he was elected to Norfolk County Council and served continuously until his death, becoming the county's youngest alderman in 1961. He joined Drayton parish council in 1950, became a Justice of the Peace in 1953 and was later appointed by Sir Edmund Bacon as a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk. He was the county chairman of the Royal British Legion between 1954 and 1957, a founder member of the Thorpe St Andrew Rotary Club and, like his father, a member of the High Steward's Committee of Norwich Cathedral.

Bob Carter had a huge concern for people and was steadfast in doing what he believed to be right. Kind and honest, fair and approachable, direct but considerate, his integrity was beyond reproach. His generous personality and example of duty and hard work earned him everyone's respect and loyalty. But, he was not a well man and sadly died whilst undergoing heart surgery on 21st October 1974 at the age of 54. He is well remembered for his forward thinking, attention to the needs of his employees and for the importance he gave to sport and the social activities of his workforce.

Bob Carter's elder son Robert Carter is the third-generation Chairman of R G Carter, the Group he has led for the last fifty years since his father's untimely death.

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