My dear Barbara
I can't believe it's been 8 years since we lost you  ..... and so much has unfortunately changed within the family. But the legacy of your love and personality is still with us - I feel it daily. And that love is still reciprocated - by myself, your family ... and so many others whos lives you touched.
I will be raising a glass today of your home-made Sloe Gin - the last batch you made in 2012 ..... and strictly reserved for such occasions!
Love Brian xx 
March 3rd 2024

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Barbara led a full and varied life within her short 56 years .....

Born in Walthamstow and spending her early years in Essex, the family later moved to West Wales where she eventually passed her Home Economics 'A Level' ..... with the whole course conducted purely in Welsh ! She had already started her 'career' in catering prior to that working as apparently a very shy Waitress at the Lamb Hotel in Rhos.

She passed an Hotel & Catering Management (HCIMA) Degree at Cheltenham where her love of outdoor activities started with Climbing. This qualification led her predominantly into Contract Catering Management positions based from Bristol, but with short spells in Hotels and Cafe/Restaurants in Surrey and Kent before returning to Bristol where she spent the rest of her life.

Her next change of outdoor activities was into Cycling, including Touring holidays in Brittany and Normandy, but then Walking started to predominate - and I'm glad it did as otherwise I would never have met her! She first joined the Ramblers but decided she wanted something a bit 'bigger' - so joined the 'Long Distance Walkers Association' (LDWA) who had a very active local group based in Bristol. I too was a young LDWA member but based in Hertfordshire - however I knew members of the Bristol group from various activities I had done so decided to join them on one of their walks on the Malvern Hills ........ and that was it !

It was a very 'active' courtship - our first date consisting of 45 miles ...... and our second 62.5 miles ! I proposed on the summit of Ben Nevis in very harsh snow conditions ..... we nearly didn't make it to the summit ! We cheated the system a bit to get married in Malvern as the place has such importance to us, and it has remained so ever since. We were going to celebrate Barbara's 56th Birthday there on 5th March (Today as I write this). So close - but it was not to be ...... but I am still going myself to celebrate with my memories.

Barbara progressed strongly with the walking in the LDWA - eventually completing 10 of their annual '100 mile' events. We travelled far and wide across the country most weekends with this, and virtually all our holidays were also walking based - but well interspersed with the pleasures of life as we enjoyed eating out. Barbara was also renowned for her contributions to Checkpoint catering ..... her Fruit Cake, Bread Pudding and Fudge having somewhat 'legendary' status ! She had also self-taught herself Cake Decorating and became the official Celebration Cake Maker to family throughout the years for special Birthdays, Anniversaries and also Weddings - including her Sisters, both my Niece and Nephew (the latter of which she did only last year) ..... and our own Wedding Cake. We have a wonderful neighbourhood atmosphere around where we have lived near Horfield Common for the full period of our Marriage - and Barbara's Cake, Fudge, Truffles ..... and even Lemon Meringue would frequently be shared around.

After a period working within Coffee Shop Management, Barbara eventually retired from her career early, but began a hobby which developed into a small business of buying and selling 'Antiques & Collectables'. I assisted in this which we did via a mixture of 'online' via eBay and also holding stalls at various venues in Bristol and the South West. She was so good in the customer facing role - it was great to watch her at work ..... so obviously something she loved doing. However as her illness progressed, we had to pull back from the fairs and just do online. But it didn't stop her from buying when she saw something she liked and thought it would sell well. She focused predominantly on china and ceramics such as Shelley, Susie Cooper, Clarice Cliff and Bristol Pottery - but she would try anything .... even buying me some interesting challenges to sell !

During this period, Barbara also acted as a Volunteer at Westonbirt Arboretum one day a week on a Working Party, assisting the Forestry Commission staff in various maintenance tasks. She really enjoyed the atmosphere and the friendship of the other Volunteers, and amongst the works she gained most pleasure from were rebuilding a Haw Haw and helping lay a traditional Hedge. Unfortunately her diagnosis also put a stop to this.

Throughout these 'retirement' years, Barbara's other big love was Suzy - her oversized Yorkshire Terrier. She absolutely adored that dog, and I don't know how she would have coped if Suzy had died before her. Suzy was a great help through these troubled years. Barbara was diagnosed with Advanced Ovarian Cancer in May 2011. There have been ups-and-downs throughout the treatment cycles, but she nearly always kept smiling with a positive edge - however daunting things were. We were fortunate that the decline in her strength was gradual which meant me managed to still do some quite adventurous activities, just slowly lessening as time progressed. We managed some wonderful holidays abroad, numerous family occasions ...... and our own Silver Wedding Anniversary.

I know she will be missed by many ......

I want to take this opportunity of giving my thanks to all the Medical staff who worked so hard and caringly towards giving Barbara as long and as best quality of life as they could. Their focus and flexibility was paramount in enabling us to do some of the things which many may not be able to do at that stage of illness. In particular our final holiday to do the Caminito del Rey in Andalucia was one such snatched occasion ...... and what a finale it was !