Tribute paid to honourary alderman

1:47pm Thursday 4th October 2001

THE High Wycombe community has paid tribute to Bob Barber, who worked tirelessly for the people of of the town, in a special civic service.

Stalwart councillor and honorary alderman Mr Barber died on September 18 aged 77 while he and his wife, Jos, were on holiday in Norfolk.

Councillors, dignitaries and faithful friends turned out on Thursday last week (Sep 27) to remember the man who was well known for his work in the town.

The High Street in High Wycombe was closed for ten minutes to allow mourners to process from the district council offices to the Parish Church.

Cllr Pam Priestley spoke on behalf of the council at the service and said afterwards: "He will be missed by everybody on and off the council. He always had a friendly word for everyone.

"The fact that he became an honorary alderman really is a sign of how much the council appreciated everything his done."

Mr Barber was High Wycombe Mayor on the borough council and a councillor from 1966 to 1974.

When Wycombe District Council was set up, he became a councillor and was chairman from 1994 to 1995.

In May 2000 Mr Barber became an honorary alderman in recognition of his "exceptional service to the government".

Mr Barber was also chairman of the Wycombe centre of the National Trust, patron of Wooburn Arts Festival and a member of Wycombe Philharmonic Choir.

His son, Rod, said: "He was an extremely good family man and we operated very much as a family, living physically close together.

"The family were always upmost in his thoughts. His council work was almost an extension of that. He put a huge amount of effort in."

Mr Barber, leaves wife Jos, two sons and five grandchildren.