Sue, Barbara and I lived in the same block of flats when Deena, Clinton and Nelson were small babies. Deena and Clinton grew up almost as brother and sister, stomping round in the bath together doing the washing, polishing the cat with furnature polish and Clinton cut off Deena's fringe one day while I was not looking. I kept in touch with Barbara over the years, by phone and email and whenever I was in UK I tried to spend a few days with her - getting up late and going to bed well after my bedtime, usually only 2am, after playing MahJong or cards all evening. I last stayed with Barbara last December, just before Christmas, when I came over to the UK to spend time with my family - my sister, my daughter and son my son Clinton after the death of my husband of 46 years died last September and I could not face Christmas alone in South Africa. I was so sorry to hear that Barbara passed away. I managed to have a short conversation with her just a few days before she passed, but she could not manage a long talk. I will miss a dear friend of over 50 years. Sue, if you read this and remember me please get in touch - suemcfadden@iafrica.com. From Sue McFadden

Barbara was a mum, to several straddlers over the years. i have memories of those times and events. My first encounter was removing a huge tree from the family backyard. Then on was many a night playing games and drinking coffee and laughs. Barbara lived for Andrew and Deena, that was her main aim. I will always remember Barbara as another mother from another time.. my love and great big hugs for the family, as always...from Edwin

I met Barb when we were both pregnant with our first children in a family hotel in Johannesburg in 1964. We were both newly married and new immigrants to South Africa.and we became firm friends. when my husband and I moved up to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Barbs and Tilly soon followed us and we all settled in Bulawayo, resuming our friendship. Over the next few years, my husband made it clear that he did not like my being friends with Barb as she was very outspoken and often put him in his place! He was a very violent man and so, to keep the peace, we stopped seeing each other...a source of considerable sadness for me, although we did still converse on the phone!. Anyway, when I finally separated from my husband and remarried we lost touch through us being transferred all around the place, and only caught up again a few years later. Barb came out to visit me and her friend Di in Oz around 2010 and I came over and spent time with her in UK in 2011, since when we kept in touch regularly via skype and messenger, The funny thing is, although we had not seen each other for years, we just took up where we left off as though there had been no gap! She was an avid cryptic crossword fan and so am I and we spent hours and hours working out clues together, long in into the night! The world is a sadder, duller place without Barb's sharp, incite-full, passionate mind. Where ever you are now, take care, my friend. xxxx