David Barke – Our dad
David, our dad, was born in Derby in 1933 to Joseph and Dora Barke. He lived his life in St Mary's RC parish until 2022, when he moved for health reasons, apart from a period of national service in the RAF in Libya. He married his sweetheart from Dublin, Carmel Hughes, our mum, who came to Derby to find work. Dad was deeply in love with mum. His love endured through the 59 years of marriage and then to the end of his life – undiminished by his failing memory.
There were three of us kids, Claire, Eddie and Paul. Dad was not demonstrative in his emotions, but his love for us was ever present in the way he selflessly provided for and protected his family. His language of love was practical. Dad was our rock - a model of unassuming duty, honesty and integrity. Dad loved his leisure time with us. Family holidays were ‘sacred’. He made Christmas special – insisting the tree not go up until Christmas Eve - to properly mark the start of ‘Feasting’. Summer weekends brought trips to cricket – though Derbyshire rarely won.
The deepest love is forged in tragedy, and when our beloved Claire died in the prime of her life, mum and dad became, if possible, even closer, supporting each other, Claire’s husband Steve and their kids, and us.
Dad was a modest gentleman despite his achievements – leaving school at 15, apprenticed at Fletcher & Stewart, he later qualified as an engineer. He progressed into management becoming the managing director of Chemineer Ltd. During retirement dad spent time travelling with mum, flying his beloved glider and spoiling his grandchildren Julien, Grace, Pascale, Ellen, Finian and Carrig.
Although, discrete in its expression, dad’s Catholic Faith was central to his life – a source of consolation and influence throughout his 90 years. Loyal to his Creator, he received the last rites before he died to get him ready for the next leg of his journey to God.
Edmund & Paul – His sons
Edmund Barke
08/06/2024
