It is with the greatest sadness we inform you that former Club President Des Barker passed away on Sunday 6th July.
Des had been unwell for some time, he had fought his illness with much dignity and is now reunited with his beloved wife Val. Des had been a member of The Avenue since 1981, and was a fine Squash and Tennis player, representing the club on many an occasion.
As a member Des took on many varied duties as a volunteer including, managing the Bar with Alan Sherwood for many years and introduced real ale to the club members. He would always refer to ‘Vitamin P’ as the alternative to a pudding/desert dish!
His volunteering at the club culminated in him being nominated as Club President from 2007– 2012 a role that he was very proud of.
The professional and dignified manner in which he performed all of his duties was testament to the type of person that he was and was demonstrated by the respect that he gained from all the members at the club.
We thank Des for his very many years of loyal service and expertise, not only as regular committee member but as a highly respected past President.
We, on behalf of the management committee, staff and members of the club send our deepest condolences to Des’s family and friends.
He will be sadly missed by us all.
Your Management Committee
I remember Des and Val with great fondness … I visited his home on numerous occasions while writing up my thesis as a student and for many years after as a friend. It was Des who introduced me to Guinness, as he refused to give me larger! I was converted and still drink it 30 years later.
Both Des and Val had a great sense of humour which I try and mimic in my classroom … They say mimicking is a great form of flattery. I could never do this any justice as Des was a 1 in a million teacher.
I will remember both with love and affection and wish them both an eternity of joy and happiness as they are surely now reunited.
Thank you for kind words and sharing your memories of Des and Val, they will both be missed.
I remember Des from what seems like a million years ago and, as well as squash at The Avenue, played with him at Havant Rugby Club. Just an all-round good person. Back in the day, when squash was first introduced, we had hand-filled signup sheets for court bookings. For a particular December 25, nobody had signed up and, across the sheet, Des had written “CHRISTMAS DAY SLACKERS!!”. That was Des!
Hi Michael,
That sounds just like Des! thank you for sharing your memories.