I would first like to thank everyone who has come here
this afternoon to support friends and family, and to celebrate the life of
Arnold, for it
is a time of celebration more than a time of mourning, a celebration of a full
and active life, of 90 years of a very caring, active and independent man.
Independent he certainly was. From the time he was 16
and bowled uninvited into the Blackburn Times and asked for an interview, got it
and a 7 year apprenticeship, but had to persuade his father to come in and sign
the papers to allow him to start his career in printing and newspapers. From
joining the Home Guard in 1939, as he was too young for the regular army, but
then serving with the 1st Army from 1942 in Africa and
Italy – he never spoke of his war
service, but he has five medals to give testimony of his service. Independent
right up to the time last year, when he was released from hospital after
breaking a hip and advised me that he would not be able to sit at his computer
desk. I had better find him a lap top so he could use it from his chair.
Something I did, and found that by next morning he already had the laptop case
and cushion tray ordered on line and delivered from
Amazon.
He loved driving. It is only afterwards that I have
discovered that he drove lorries all over the country, including while being
stationed in Carmarthen, as well as Africa and Italy
in the war. Due to his motor cycle injury in the war, we always thought that he
was a motor bike courier. He was a lorry driver. It seems he was only on a motor
cycle pillion with a friend trying to catch up with the convoy in 1945 when it
crashed into one of the lorries. That caused the injury that gave him a
disability, and a plate of solid silver in his leg which would reduce his
mobility for the rest of his life – though I never heard him complain (except occasionally when it was damp!)
He loved
driving till the end – his car was his pride, even if only used more recently to
get the papers and a trip to ASDA. He was looking forward to picking up his
brand new Kia in February and had the brochures by his chair which he would
delight to show you…
He was always active in the community until his later
years. He loved his cricket and was a qualified Cricket Umpire presiding at many
prestigious matches. An active member of the Royal British Legion in his early
days, he gravitated to being treasurer and secretary in many roles and
organisations. An active member of the Chapel (the printing union), he never
claimed to be politically active, but does reminisce that he felt a little shame
when he joined the Conservative Club in Rochdale, but the drinks were cheaper
there !!! He always had a Northern Pragmatism.
His membership of the Buffs, the Royal Antediluvian
Order of Buffaloes since 1963 was his true and continuing delight, and I am very
grateful to Mr Roy Davies the Provincial Chaplain and all Arnold's colleagues
from the Buffs in agreeing to conduct this celebration and committal in a manner
that Arnold would have appreciated.
He was also an active Freemason, being a member of
several orders, though after his stroke he found large groups more difficult and
has restricted himself to the Buffs for the last 10 years. Once again I thank
the brethren who have come here to support and remember
him.
He was also a very caring man, and suffered many losses
in his time. His first wife, Barbara was diagnosed with cancer and he cared for
her through the last three years of her life. He later married Betty, and sadly
within five years she had also contracted a cancer and needed care until her
death.
It was a couple of years later that Arnold came into our
lives. His diaries tell me “Some friends then introduced me to a real dizzy
blonde, who turned out to be exceptional”
In 1974, He married Eileen, Sue’s mother, and became
part of our family. Sadly Eileen is not well enough to be here this afternoon,
but their early years were ones of activity, and a shared joy of music, travel
and the rich Northern countryside of Arnold’s birth. As Eileen became more
frail, he devoted years to being her carer, a task he did without complaint.
They celebrated 40 years marriage this year. Moving into more sheltered
accommodation as the years went by he continued to care for Eileen as in time he
required more care himself. We will always be indebted to his carers from Plas y
Mor – and I thank you for coming here this
afternoon.
He took delight in his Grandaughters, and in his great
grandchildren. He gave a big smile when he learned that he was about to be a
great grandfather again, though in hospital, and very
poorly.
On the night before his stroke, while sitting with his
laptop he wrote in his diary
“Was a bit off today – didn’t eat all my
tea”.
A full life, a dry humour, a generous spirit, a life of
independence, commitment and caring.
Arnold Barker – I am glad that you were part of
our lives.
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