Beulah Brough/Pinkerton's story

Beulah was one of ten siblings, born into a Christian home. She never spoke much about her childhood, apart from some of the boys having to sleep out on the verandah at one place they lived at. However, later in life, she revealed that her mother Esther, although a sweet caring woman, preferred to mother babies rather than the older kids. They were often left to look after themselves. When Beulah and others wanted attention, she would be too busy with the latest baby and would be told “You don’t need me. You’re a big lump now.”

In her early days she shared a bed with her sister, Isobel. Later, they got to have separate beds, with quilts that their mother had made. One of their favourite things to do was play in the pine tree forest and build houses in there.

One unfortunate incident involved Beulah falling into a ditch outside the house. Her mother, Esther, frantically bathed her and washed her hair, due to the ditch being unhygienic. At another point, just about all the children, including Beulah contracted Scarlet Fever due to an epidemic. Isobel was the only one who didn’t get it. 

Beulah started school at Te Kuiti Primary. From there to Ongarue for nearly three years. They attended Sunday School every week at the Gospel Hall there. At nine years of age. Her father led her to the lord

In 1948, the family moved to Eden Terrace in Auckland, where she attended Newton Central School. It was in Auckland where Beulah first saw aircraft AND traffic lights! This was all new to them, having lived in the King Country for so long. 

She also learnt to play the piano over this time and attended Every Girl’s Rally.

They also got to spend time with Joy Cowley, their cousin (New Zealand author), enjoying the stories she made up for them. Isobel recalls: When lights were out, Joy would tell us a story, making it up as she went along. It was called "The Kids down our street". What stories she could tell. How we loved them. I asked Joy a few years ago if she remembered the story about the kids down our street, but no, she didn't. A pity. She would have had another best seller.

After that she went to Te Kowhai Intermediate. The family then moved to Penrose where she attended Otahuhu College.

Every Saturday Beulah and Isobel would scrub the kitchen floor and back porch steps and do the ironing. One week it took 5 hours! No steam iron in those days and only a table to iron on.

Her first job was as a seamstress at the Child’s wear factory in Central Auckland. 

At a Christian camp she met her future husband, James Pinkerton and they were married 3 December 1966 in Ellerslie Auckland.

Throughout most of the 70s and 80s, she was a stay-at-home mum, always busy, cooking, baking, knitting, cleaning and keeping the home running efficiently. She was a great cook and even learnt to decorate cakes. She also learnt how to cut hair, but unfortunately insisted on cutting fringes at the front!

She did some part time work during these years, including cooking for a local rest home in Te Aroha.  Later, when the kids started to leave the nest and her husband, Jim was on the Invalid’s benefit, she helped supplement their income by working at the Bendon Factory in Hamilton.

Beulah always had a heart for others. She and Jim hosted over 100 Israelis at their home. Later in life, while living in Waitara, she enjoyed eight – nine years as local leader for Maori Postal Aotearoa (A gospel literature outreach to people throughout New Zealand), getting to know many Maori families.  She also enjoyed time cooking for Mainly Music for about five years. 

Over the years Beulah fellowshipped with a number of churches and ladies’ groups including a group of ladies at the Salvation Army at Waitara. In later years Beulah fellowshipped at New Plymouth Bible Chapel where she particularly enjoyed playing indoor bowls until back problems meant she had to stop.   

In December 2017, Beulah and Jim celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

She and Jim later retired in Waitara and then to New Plymouth. Beulah’s health deteriorated and she had to move into a rest home. Her last few months were spent in a Hamilton Rest home.

Isobel (her sister) recalled how loyal she was to Jim. The last time Beulah and Jim stayed with her, Isobel remarked on how well Jim was looking after her. Beulah said, "Yes, he is a good man."

She did a lot of travelling within New Zealand, but never got to travel much overseas. She would say “It doesn’t matter. Heaven is going to be so much more amazing than anything here on Earth.” 

Her grandchildren were very precious to her and she was always saving up for the next trip to Australia to see Lee's 10 children. She would have loved to see more of Meredith's two children but they were in England which was a bit too far away. She proudly displayed photographs of them all on the wall of the house. 

She got to go to Australia a couple of times. In her final trip, she got to meet her first great grandchild, Opie. 

Beulah will always be remembered as a caring, lady who always put others first before herself.  

For Jim's story see here.

Special thanks to Beulah’s sister, Isobel Middlemiss for additional stories.