Kenneth James Barnes CBE

8^th May 1930 – 1^st July 2010

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Kenneth James Barnes, at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon on the 1^st July 2010.

He led a full and interesting life, from his childhood in Malaya, Australia and England, his time at Cambridge and marriage to our mother, Lesley, leading to service in Nigeria where he contracted polio.  He worked hard to overcome his disability and fought for the right to work at a time when physical disability  meant being thrown on the scrap heap of life.  A return to Nigeria, moving on to  many years in Malawi, a brief stint in England once again and, eventually, Brussels, before finally settling in Hungerford for a busy retirement.  He loved to travel, had a vast acquaintance around the world with whom he corresponded regularly, and a keen interest in current affairs.  He was very recently determined to have a party to celebrate his 80^th birthday and so he did – he enjoyed himself so much!  We were all glad to be part of that.

Dad loved traveling to new places and indeed spent much of his life doing just that and it was while he was on holiday in Kent that he became unwell and returned home.  He then was taken by ambulance to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, with a respiratory infection and sadly his condition worsened rapidly.  He died the next day – a swift and gentle passing, surrounded by his family.

Dad’s death will leave a large hole in our lives and in the lives of those who knew him and we will now have to learn to live without him.

A service will be held at St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford, on Monday 19th July 2010 at 1.30pm.  We would ask that no flowers be sent, but a donation to this charity that was close to Dad's heart as was Malawi in general.

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