Brenda Ann Payne was born in 1948. She was the daughter of Joss and Freda Richardson and born at Wharley Croft on the outskirts of Dufton. Her brother, Clive, was born four years earlier and all lived in the family home.  As a young girl she went to school at Dufton and later went on to work at the local Greenhow Farm and as a dinner lady at Dufton School.

In 1969, she married Johnny Payne and they had a son, Terry.  The three of them moved into the village of Dufton. Initially to Quarry Cottage and then to Rose Cottage. After the passing of her father, they moved to Solmane along with her brother Clive, where she remained for the rest of her life. Brenda worked as a cleaner for numerous retired ladies in the village over the years. Her caring nature meant that she also worked for various community groups such as the Stick and Wheel , Meals on Wheels, along with being an active member of the Village Hall committee, WI, and regularly attended both the Methodist chapel and St Cuthbert’s Church.

Her baking skills were a great asset and was something she still continued to do right until the end of her life.

Her husband Johnny died suddenly in 1998 and left herself and Clive sharing the house at Solmane. Her son, Terry , had moved to Whitehaven and married Margaret in October of that year and had a son, Jack. She loved her grandson and spent many happy times together both in Dufton and Whitehaven.

She maintained a strong relationship with her pen pal Delores from America from the age of 14. This continued for the rest of her life. She actually stayed with her in Los Angeles.  Brenda always loved children and they loved her. Virtually all the children in the village knew her; she visited some of them in New Zealand after they emigrated there.  In her latter years, Brenda enjoyed the local friendship group and going to bingo on a Sunday. She even raised money to help the local minibus continue enabling the elderly community to have valued transport to Appleby.

Brenda was a loving and caring soul who always thought of others. She will be sadly missed as a great friend to many and a loving figure in so many extended families. She loved Dufton and was so thankful to all her friends who helped her with shopping and lifts to Appleby.

She was a doting Nana and loving mother in law to Margaret. A loving and loyal sister to Clive and a fantastic mam to Terry. We’re blessed that she’s been a part of all our lives. We’ll all miss her terribly but will savour the good times forever.

Brenda's service - a private graveside service - took place at St Cuthbert's Church, Dufton, on 1st May 2020.