|  Author | Topic: Spondon Church Boys' Club / Rev Edward Barber (Read 480 times) |
Steve (Spondon Online)
Administrator
member is offline
![[homepage]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif)
Joined: Jul 2003
Gender: Male 
Posts: 73
Location: Spondon, Derby
|  | Spondon Church Boys' Club / Rev Edward Barber
« Thread Started on Mar 18, 2009, 3:31pm » | |
The following appeal appeared in Monday's Derby Telegraph:
A former member of Spondon Church Boys' Club, set up in 1939 by one of Derby's longest-serving vicars, the Rev Edward Barber, is appealing for more help to produce a book to celebrate his life.
Stephen Beet, who now lives in France, told the Derby Telegraph: "Two years ago, to mark the centenary of his birth and the 20th anniversary of his death, I appealed for surviving members of the club, which Mr Barber ran for almost 50 years, to contact me with their memories of him, so that the work he carried out during his long ministry could be recorded for posterity.
"Several people did contact me at the time, mainly from the older generation of boys whom he helped in the 1940s and 50s, but I would like to hear from more people, especially members of the club and church during the latter part of his ministry.
"As St Patrick's Day, March 17, marks the 70th anniversary of his induction as vicar at Spondon, I thought it would be a suitable time to renew my appeal."
When he died in 1988, the Rev Thomas Edward Morton Barber, vicar of St Werburgh's, Spondon, had served longer in the same parish – 48 years – than any other priest in the country and was the longest server in the Derby diocese.
Born in 1907, he was the son of the Rev Canon Gerard T Barber, vicar of Hucknall Torkard.
Educated at Repton School and Cambridge, he was ordained at Lincoln Minster as curate of St Nicholas' Church, Lincoln. It was there that he first became renowned for his work with young people when he started a boys' club, a project he carried on in Spondon after being appointed to the parish in March 1939.
"Many Spondon boys had never had a holiday away from home, so, starting as soon as he arrived in 1939, Mr Barber arranged annual camps for them in the heart of Devon," said Stephen. "The holidays became a tradition which he carried on for 49 years until his death in 1988, at the age of 81."
The vicar was so respected by all who knew him that more than 1,000 people attended his funeral in Spondon Church, many travelling thousands of miles from across the globe.
"The night before his funeral, members of Spondon Church Boys' Club, including myself, kept a silent vigil beside his coffin – one boy even defying his father and climbing down a tree outside his bedroom in order to help keep watch in the early hours of the morning!" said Stephen.
"Many people regarded Mr Barber as a self-effacing and saintly man – always on hand to comfort the sick and minister to the dying. He was one of the last true gentlemen of the old school and was brought up in the standards of a bygone age, but this endeared him all the more to his people and he had a true empathy with young and old alike.
"He had no time for church politics and refused to attend clergy meetings, preferring to spend his time caring for his parishioners, for whom he always provided lavish hospitality at the vicarage in Spondon."
Stephen would also like people to contribute photographs to the book, which, he says, will be returned promptly.
"Mr Barber was a much-loved – some might say revered – figure. His work for the youth of Spondon is still widely remembered by those who knew him."
Anyone with memories of Spondon Church Boys' Club or were members of the church itself at that time and have particular memories of Rev Edward Barber are encouraged to contact Stephen Beet by e-mail at: StephenRBeet@gmail.com or by writing to: 13 Rue Principale, 87320 THIAT, France.
|
Steve
Spondon Online |
|
currybda
New Member
member is offline
Joined: Apr 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 5
Location: Bermuda
| | Re: Spondon Church Boys' Club / Rev Edward Barber
« Reply #1 on Jun 3, 2009, 6:09am » | |
The Reverend Barber certainly was the person I consider as the most influenrial factor in my formative years. He, and the boy's club he created, sustained the message my parents were trying to transmit to me that hard work and integrity, applied to all equally, would yield many of life's benefits.
I loved the Sidmouth camps. I loved the boy's club nights but most of all I loved the football and cricket teams.
God bless you Reverend Barber you provided a security blanket for those boys you strove to protect and kept us on the straight and narrow.
My biggest regret in life is that I was unable to attend your funeral but, to this day, whenever I am back in Spondon I first visit the grave of my parents and then SIR I come and cry at your grave. We all called you Sir ... no one else I know deserved the honour more!
Dave Carruthers
Curry@ibl.bm
| |
|
billfrearson
New Member
member is offline
Joined: Jun 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 2
| | Re: Spondon Church Boys' Club / Rev Edward Barber
« Reply #2 on Jun 4, 2009, 10:41pm » | |
My first camping holiday with the reverand Barber was to coombe martin in devon the last one was in Wales at Llanfairfechen im not sure of the dates now but it must have been 1943--45
I can remeber running for Spondon church boys club in Nottingham and playing foot ball for them on our home pitch up Locko Rd Bill Frearson
| |
| |
|
![[Home]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif)
![[Help]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif)
![[Search]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif)
![[Login]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif)
![[Register]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif)
![[Search This Thread]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/search2.gif)
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif)
![[Print]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif)
Logged