Rear Admiral John Lee Barber's 90th Birthday Celebration - April 1995
Rear Admiral John Lee Barber lived on the Quay in Wivenhoe during the 1980s - 1990s
Mike Downes and Peter Hill
On 16th April 1995, a party was organised to celebrate Rear Admiral John Lee Barber’s 90th birthday.
A band had been arranged and also a Sail Past on the River Colne. This comprised the Essex Police Launch, West Mersea Lifeboat and also boats from Wivenhoe Sailing Club as well as the Wivenhoe and Rowhedge Yacht Owners Association.
Rear Admiral John Lee Barber, known locally and with great affection as the ‘Admiral’ took the salute from the balcony of his home, Ferry House, on that part of Wivenhoe Quay up near The Folly, on the corner with Bethany Street.
His next door neighbour, Sarah Scattergood, had baked him a cake especially for the occasion.
John Lee Barber was a familiar figure in lower Wivenhoe and on the river. He came to Wivenhoe via the island of Jersey where he had settled with his wife who was born there. When she died in 1964, he came to live in Suffolk in the villages of Harkstead and Holbrook, before eventually settling in Wivenhoe. He enjoyed his 15 years in Wivenhoe where he was a character.
Not long after his birthday, in September 1995, he moved to Hampshire to be nearer to Victoria, one of his two daughters. Sadly, he died in November 1995. His funeral service took place in St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe.
Rear Admiral John Lee Barber DSO CB had a distinguished naval career which is summarised here. A road in what is called the Port development, near to Wivenhoe’s railway station, is called Admiral’s Walk after John Lee Barber.
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I am attempting to contact a member of the history group relating to John lee Barber. I have left a message on a landline issued for Peter Hill.
Could some one please respond and I can explain my query . Thanking you
Hi Wendy. You and I have been in touch with each other.
Peter
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