Colin Barnfather – funeral and memorial service Tuesday 22nd October 2013

Funeral and Memorial Services

Colin’s funeral and memorial service will take place on:

Tuesday 22nd October, 11.20 am – 12.20 pm
at Markeaton Crematorium

Markeaton Lane
Derby DE22 4NH
(Google maps link)

We look forwards to seeing and meeting anyone and everyone who may wish to attend the service and the wake which will follow at a nearby venue (details available at the funeral, or feel free to email me for details if you’re unable to make it to the service – (email Nick).

Raising Money in Colin’s Name

I’ve been very touched and delighted by all the people who have chosen to donate to the Lochaber Mountain Rescue team through the JustGiving.com/friendsofcolinbarnfather page.

I’m very grateful to Fuz, David, Parky, Di, Martin, Carla and Lloydie for their support in setting that up and for being generally quite marvellous. Even further there are a number of improv comedy groups out there who are also collecting donations, which is incredibly sweet (thank you We Are Improv and The Maydays and our home team MissImp).

If you would like to make a donation just follow the link, or if you would prefer to donate by text message just send a message to 70070 containing CBRN59 and the amount you wish to donate in a text message to e.g. ‘CBRN59 £5’. Our funeral directors, Murray’s will also receive and pass on donations.

Memories and Pictures

We would love to get a collection of photographs of Colin from his many and varied walks of life, as well as any memories or anecdotes you would care to share.

Please email anything you may wish to share to in.memory.of.colin.barnfather@gmail.com or in real world form to the address below:
c/o Nick Tyler, 77 Windsor Street, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2BW

Awaiting an End

So… Colin’s funeral and memorial service is on Tuesday. I’ve written my eulogy and I think it’s okay. I wrote and read a eulogy for my Nanna’s funeral and I remember it being a peculiar experience. I’m used to performance and saying things in front of lots of people, but that’s usually improvised and I stand by my belief that everything is fine as long as you don’t plan it. Once you’ve written something there is endless possibility for disaster, every word is a raised paving slab and every dot and slash of punctuation an enladdered bucket. There’s a lot of responsibility to say the right thing, and not nervously say anything appalling (genuine risk for me).

I’m slightly calmed by the knowledge that although I’m speaking first, three other people who knew Colin in different aspects of his life will be speaking afterwards. I’m looking forwards to hearing from his colleagues at Rolls Royce and the ATC where he spent so much of his time. Between us we can hopefully come close to encapsulating his life in affectionate and warm words.

It’s a curious event to look forwards to, but I am looking forwards to meeting people who I’ve only exchanged messages with since Colin’s death. It has also been a rather fraught few weeks and I hope Tuesday will help along that sense of closure which it traditionally provides. Perhaps bursting into tears over my script will help…

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