IN MEMORIAM

Brian O. BARBER

21 October 1933 to 20 March 2009

AAS Arborfield Intake 49B

July 1950	7 March 2009

“An old and dear friend died today -

Brian and I enlisted within a day of each other, he on 7^th and I on 8^th September 1949, from our first day at Arborfield finding ourselves in the same barrack room throughout the three years of our apprenticeship. Both training to be Telecommunication Mechanics, sharing interests and disinterests, we soon developed a lasting friendship.

Passing Out on 25 July 1952 Brian and I with the rest of the intake inevitably went our separate ways, on 30 August he being posted in the first instance to 5 Central Workshops REME, Old Dalby and I to 5 Anti-Aircraft Group Workshops REME, Newark-on-Trent.

In 1953 he attended a course at the GPO Research Station, Dolls Hill, London prior to his posting to Trials Establishment R.A., Ty-Croes, Isle of Anglesey. October 1954 found him at 16 Infantry Workshops REME, South Korea and in 1955 at Britcom Base Workshops, Kure, Japan before returning to South Korea & 10 Infantry Workshops REME, from thence to REME Base, Aden and in November 1956 to District Workshops REME, Cyprus.

In November 1958 Brian was posted to Army Air Corps Centre, Middle Wallop to attend an aircraft conversion course. Before he could commence training he was involved as a pillion passenger in a motorcycle accident, receiving injuries serious enough to prompt his early discharge during 1959.

Brian pursued a somewhat chequered civilian career in the UK and in 1966 immigrated to Canada to continue a successful career in Life Insurance, along the way attaining professional qualifications as a Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Certified Financial Planner.

On 6 December 1991, at Las Vegas, Nevada, Brian and Katherine married and lived happily ever after.

During April 1999 Brian commenced his retirement.

This web site has been the conduit for us to restore contact, for the past two years maintaining regular audio/video communication on a weekly basis during which time I learned that he had already fought and won a battle with cancer. Unfortunately the insidious enemy within regrouped for a final attack, aggressive surgery and chemo-therapy proved ineffective, weakened him and he was unable to fight back, finally losing the war.

Brian Barber died today, he was set free at 04.30 hours on 20 March 2009 and the torture finally ended. Now he is at rest in God’s kingdom. My feelings are very mixed; on the one hand deeply saddened by his death, yet happy that he now lies in peace and at rest.

He is survived by his wife Katherine, and two elder siblings, his brother in South America and sister in the USA.

My gratitude is extended to Katherine for diligently keeping me updated during this very trying period, and for the final notification of Brian’s untimely death.

Shalom, my old friend. I will miss you greatly.”

George MILLIE (49B)

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Brian was interred at 10.00 hours on Saturday 21 March 2009 (Ontario time/date). Katherine kindly read on our behalf the following poem:

Death is nothing at all

I have only slipped away into the next room

I am I, and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other

That we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes

We enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me,

Let my name be ever the household word that

It always was.

Let it be spoken without effort,

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant

It is the same as it ever was

There is absolutely unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am

Out of sight? I am but waiting for you

For an interval

Somewhere very near

Just around the corner.

All is well.

Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)

George Millie (49B)

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The loss that Katherine and Brian's family feel will be shared by Arborfield Old Boys around the world. The ties that hold us together are difficult, if not impossible, to explain but many comment on the feelings of comradeship that exist across all intakes over many years. Brian has passed away in the 60th year of the 1949 intakes, the 49ers, which is even more poignant.

May Katherine and Brian's family be comforted in the knowledge that they will be in the thoughts of Brian's Arborfield family at this saddest of times.

Trevor Stubberfield (52A)

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Maggie and I send our sincere condolences to Katherine and her family, as they mourn the loss of Brian. The loss to us Brats, is made more poignant because this is the 60th anniversary of the 49'ers formation as an entity.

A special mention needs to be made of George Millie, whose close friendship with Brian Barber has spanned all of those long years since their Arborfield days. For those of us that are left, we have to dress ranks and close up. As our numbers dwindle we will never forget those who can no longer answer the roll call, for ours is a comradeship that transcends all.

Greg Peck (53B)

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Sorry to hear that a 49er has passed on. I'm sure that all 49ers in UK, on whose behalf I send this message, will share my sympathy for his wife Katharine and family. God willing those of us able to attend the Reunion, in July, will remember with a Toast ' to absent Old Boy 49ers'

Pete' Henry (49B)

 Memorial Prayer

O God, full of compassion, dwelling on high,

grant perfect rest under the wings of thy presence

in the company of the holy and pure that shine like heaven

to the soul of Brian who has gone to his eternal home.

Father of compassion,

shelter him under the shadow of thy wings for ever

and let his soul be bound in the bundle of life.

The Lord be his portion.

May he lie in his resting place in peace.

Let us say, Amen.

Traditional

Brian recorded a Memoire for the web site and it can be accessed from this link