Barbara Guest has been a part of Gordon Guest’s life for 53 years, for his wife Anne over 35 years and for his children Rebecca and Duncan all their lives. Since moving to Cullompton, Devon in August 1992 the Guest family have had many many happy and enjoyable times together. Sometimes these were going out for the day, sometimes they were visiting each other’s houses, sometimes just dropping in on Barbara and Dad/Grandad (James) for a brief chat. When Becky and Duncan were at secondary school in Cullompton they both went to East Devon Music Centre on a Friday night and quite often the three of us would drop in at Topsham with our fish and chips afterwards for a brief hello. There are lots of photographs beginning when Becky and Duncan were tiny tots and visiting Devon to the present day. I have selected more recent ones from the time we Guests moved to Devon. They are a simple reflection of the many happy times we all had together. Gordon has many happy memories of taking Barbara and dad (James) out on many occasions and taking Barbara out after dad died. Photo's 1 & 2: Gordon took Barbara and Dad to the Eden Project in Cornwall for the day. They had a great day, lovely sunshine and Barbara loved looking at the flowers as she always did. Photo 3: Barbara and James at Charleston near St Austell on a day out with Gordon. In the bay were skiff races and that evening we had a super dinner in the local hotel. Of course Barbara went for seafood special. Photo 5: In August 1992. Gordon, Anne, Duncan and Rebecca Guest arrive at their new home in Cullompton moving from Germany. Barbara Guest is here to meet them and had bought milk, tea, coffee and biscuits to put in the kitchen. Photo 6: Barbara was a fantastic gardener and landscaper doing many different projects during her life. Barbara worked with Annie to plan, dig out and plant the garden in Cullompton. Twenty one years later much of the garden in Cullompton is still as she designed it though it has matured. Photo 7: Barbara and Dad (James) at Gordon and Annie’s house for Sunday lunch. Barbara always commented on the good roast beef and how a big joint cooked better than a little one. Photo's 8 & 9: Dog walking was an essential part of Barbara and James life. Becky and Duncan remember visiting at Mortonhampstead and getting up at six in the morning to go out with Grandad (James) to walk the dogs. Sometimes when Barbara and dad went away for a holiday they would leave the dogs with us in Cullompton. Photo's12 & 13: Barbara and James ran a craft stall business for a number of years. Barbara did knitted goods including beautiful knitted jumpers, and James (Dad or Grandad) did polished stones, penholders, key rings, bugs jewellery etc. Becky and Duncan volunteered to go and help with a stall one weekend, one of the last fairs they did. Barbara and Grandad were so thrilled that Becky and Duncan wanted to come and help them for the day. Becky and Duncan equally got great delight from helping their grandparents. Barbara was a keen scrabble player, and enjoyed many board games. In photo 15 she is learning to play a science fiction fantasy game called Hero Quest with the Guest boys. One of Duncan’s many games. At Christmas we usually went to Topsham and joined Barbara and Dad (James) for the candlelight carol service at Topsham Church. Barbara always had a lovely spread of Christmas fare afterwards. On Christmas Eve we would often come to Topsham, or they to us. Barbara was always delighted to have company and made a great fuss over Becky and Duncan who she regarded as grandchildren. Losing James in 2001 was a very difficult time for Barbara. They had been very much a unit, married for 30 years and coping without him was challenging. Photo 18: Becky, Philip and Barbara in the back garden of Grove View bungalow in Topsham after Dad (James) had died. Photo 19: Barbara at Christmas in Gordon’s house the year after dad (James) died. Her first Christmas on her own. It was good that Barbara had the company and as usual she enjoyed the roast dinner. Anne Guest remembers Barbara and James collecting newspapers for Clyst Hydon School. The school would recycle newspapers and be paid cash. Barbara and James collected newspapers from their friends and neighbours and twice a month on a Tuesday afternoon they came to the school to unload a car full. A willing group of children were sent out to help unload the car. This went on for many years. Barbara was a regular visitor to the summer open day and the Christmas play at Clyst Hydon Primary School where Annie is Headteacher. Gordon brought her out and in the summer they would go for lunch at the Five Bells and in the winter they had tea and mince pies after the play. Barbara enjoyed these events greatly and regaled us with tales of teaching the boys in the nautical school in Portishead and later as the child care leader on the P&O liners to Australia. In 2004 Becky Guest married Craig West at Clyst Hydon village church. Barbara and Philip both came to the Service, Barbara resplendent in a bright pink suit. I believe Christmas 2006 was the last Christmas Barbara spent in her own house before shortly moving into a residential home in Exeter. Craig and Becky moved to Newcastle just before Alexander was born in January 2008. Barbara was always interested to hear about what Craig’s orchestra were doing and whether she’d heard them on Classic FM recently. She thoroughly enjoyed cuddling Alexander and bouncing him on her knee and was really pleased his middle name was James, after Grandad and his family. Rebecca West took her son Alexander James West to meet Barbara in her residential home in 2008 and again in 2009. Barbara so enjoyed playing with Alexander and talking to Becky. A final photograph. Gordon in front of May Blossom on a beautiful hot spring day. This picture of the may blossom in the garden celebrates Barbara’s life through her love of gardens and plants and flowers. Farewell Barbara, now enjoy an eternal garden Love Gordon. Barbara loved her gardens and flowers. The month of May, the sunshine, the flowers, the buzzing bees and the garden scents go with you Barbara. God Bless you and rest in peace. With Love from Gordon & Annie Guest Duncan Guest Rebecca, Craig, Alexander & Helena West A prayer for Barbara from Gordon Guest I thank thee God. I thank thee God that I have lived In this great world and known its joys; The song of birds, the strong sweet scent of hay And cooling breezes in the secret dusk, The flaming sunsets at close of day, Hills and the lonely covered moors. I thank thee, God that I have lived. Amen.