Admiration for Bill and Anne Barbour

Editorial Department • Published 3 Dec 2009 09:00 2 Comments

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Dear Sir, - May I, through the letter columns of your paper, express my condolences to the family of Anne and Bill Barbour, both of whom we lost from our community last week.

My conversations with all whom I have met, have indicated how highly Anne and Bill were, and are, esteemed, by all who knew them - and how sympathetically they were considered by all those who did not know them.

Those of us who did know them have experienced a feeling of guilt, that we did not recognise the signs of the heavy burden that Anne and Bill were carrying, and so we did not reach out to help them. There is a lesson to be learned by all of us.

I hope that Anne and Bill's family are aware of the admiration that is felt for Anne and Bill - in the way they lived their lives and the great good they did for our community - and that that admiration is now stronger than it ever was.

The only personal regret I have is that I have been unable to show my respect for them in a public forum, and I am attempting to repress that failing by writing this letter.

Anne and Bill will be sadly missed and Enniskillen will be a diminished place without them.

With deepest sympathy,

Eamon Flanagan.

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Dec 09

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roland Evans
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Mar 1, 23:49
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I well remember Bill Barbour as a kindly sympathetic teacher of Latin in the 1960's. He love his subject and always displayed a liberal broad minded attitude to world affairs. he was strong minded in his beliefs but always softly spoken and humorous in his exposition.

I was saddened by the tragedy of the last days of his life.

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Patrick Steele
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Mar 2, 22:29
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Mr Barbour supervised the school chess club and I remember him as a most congenial gentleman! In September 2009 I spoke to him and his wife when I returned to the school for the 400th year anniversary dinner.

I also feel a sense of loss as Portora was my extended family. To his immediate family, I wish to express my sincere condolences.

Patrick Steele (OP, 1964-1973)

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