Johnny's View Over the Canal (& Chris's): The Memorial Service for Harriet Barber at Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster, in the county of Dorset

We returned to England via Cherbourg-Poole on Thursday 14 May for Harriet's memorial service on Saturday 16 May.

On Friday Danny treated us to breakfast in Poundbury (Maeve was so annoyed and jealous she missed this, being at school and all); after which we both tried to help with practical things like me breaking Danny's antique Mountfield grass cutter and Chris wrapping presents for Dory's birthday on Sunday. During the day other family arrived: Pete and Ann; Christian, Sarah, Sophie-Anna and Ebony; Emily and Poppy.

Some of us were rather worried about the weather as it had been so changeable: very windy, heavy rain, rather cold but some sunny periods. Saturday and Sunday turned out to be classic Dorsetshire Springtime: very bright and sunny, exciting cloud-scape - oh yes and lilac in bloom, and peonies.

Of pressing concern, Danny and the girls needed to concentrate on their personal contributions to the memorial service. The school headmaster, Martin Cooke, and his team were organising the service with meticulous care over all details. Our party of Kathy, David, Chris and myself arrived at about 2 p.m. and milled around the stunning grounds with the other guests, numbering upwards of 100.

Here are my companions near the school chapel awaiting the tolling of a solemn single bell, summoning us to the service.

Dory is a pupil at Clayesmore and had spent the previous night in a dorm Saturday morning was an ordinary school day.
She's stood here with her friends.

We gathered for the service in the school chapel where there was no photography and so I'll try to describe the scene. The whole school choir were led by the directors of music James Smith and Ralph Kerr. The organist was the headmaster Martin Cooke, and, I thought, an accomplished player.
The service was led by Revd. Jonathan Edwards, former chaplain of Clayesmore school.

The cross was processed by representatives of the school body and we were warmly welcomed. For me it was an occasion of very mixed and intense emotions: at once uplifting to hear again of the full exuberance of Harriet's life and huge talent; next such grief and longing for all this not to be happening at all; not yet, not here.

I knew the hymns almost by heart. Of course it would have helped if I could actually sing, but there were enough fine young voices around for that not to matter.

The form of the memorial service was to be readings and personal memories or reflections on Harriet's life and work as a teacher and artist framed by hymns she and Danny liked. And so we did sing Jerusalem and as I always do, I can't stop myself thinking 'How did they manage to appropriate our anti-establishment revolutionary anthem?' How do they do that?

The headmaster had opened with a long and full tribute to the teaching life and work of Harriet at the school, pointing out that many of her past colleagues were at this memorial, so loved and respected was she. [Harriet had been full-time head of art at Clayesmore prep for several years, though was to go part-time as she began to develop her own artistic career.]
But the second tribute, following Jerusalem rather appropriately, praised her artistic work. It was delivered by Prof. Simon Olding. I listened with ever closer attention. He spoke eloquently in the context of an English post-impressionist artistic tradition which Harriet had mastered and moved forward. Always eager to 'improve' her work from Manchester to the Slade and on to the by-ways and rivers of her beloved home county. "She is the artist of Dorsetshire". Her command of colour and form just amaze. I can understand that. Every day I can look at several Harriet Barber's at home in what she used to call 'your North of England collection' and be overcome.

Next Harriet's close friend Elizabeth read the high romanticism of Coleridge's To Nature, which Harriet loved: 'it brings / Nor fear, nor grief, nor vain perplexity'. Oh it did this time Sam.

We stood again for Bunyan's resilient anthem. This one always cheers me up. Real muscular protestantism with no messing about. There be giants on the road to social reconstruction. They will be slain, Ed, and that was supposed to be your job.

Tribute III was given by Harriet's twin Rosie who spoke on behalf of her siblings: Jamie (who was present); Polly and Georgia who could not be there. Rosie read and commented on Harriet's 25 theses, or things that are true about Harriet Barber, like "Painting is very important to me". Rosie was by turns charming, witty, insightful and heart-breaking. We know painting was very important to Harriet Barber, but she had a question that cuts through cant: "Will I be recognised for the great artist I know I can be?" This takes me back to Prof. Olding's observations. He did not frame it thus, but how do we know when one has joined the élite? Canvases sold? Prices? Or the regard of one's peer who can say before the face of the people: you are the artist of Dorset?

The tributes ended with the future: Dory and Maeve. They told us of their mother: funny, kind, thoughtful. Their time with Mummy was rich with such stories that will stay with them all their lives. We thank them for sharing just a few. How hard that must have been and how well they played their parts. We will all remember that.
Then Harriet's mother Wendy Barber briefly drew together some threads of the story. Finally she thanked everyone and it was time for the last hymn.
Then Danny rose to speak. There was a cunning and secret plan. As the next day was Dory's birthday, the school choir and congregation rose up to sing 'Happy Birthday' just for Dorelia Harriet Thompson.

We all left the chapel to the same voluntary Danny and Harriet had chosen for their wedding day: Sortie by Lefébure-Wély.

The hospitality of Clayesmore was truly on a grand scale. We were told there would be 'refreshments'. That word does not do justice to the piles of fine sandwiches, pastries, cakes - and more. Danny is above talking to his school friend Dave Lynch. Below is Prof. Olding before a Barber seascape.

And more discussions around a Barber landscape.

Now, the headmaster had mentioned in his address that he had in his study one of Harriet's late flower paintings. We went with Kathy when she took him up on the option to view it. Kathy is very keen to purchase one of Harriet's flower paintings.