Friends Remembered
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Friends Remembered
Barwicker No. 13
March 1989
We were all saddened in January by the deaths, on the same
day, of two of our senior members, namely Bart Hammond and Reg
Mortimer. We have selected our front cover illustration to provide
a link between the two. It is a drawing by Bart of Barwick Church,
which was so lovingly cared for by Reg when he was churchwarden
there. They will be greatly missed and long remembered. We send
our sincerest condolences to Glenys and Yvonne and their families.
Bart's many drawings reveal the changing face of Barwick and
the neighbourhood during the past sixty years. He said that he
had drawn the church tower so often that he thought it would be
fitting if the bell was tolled at his funeral, and he got his wish.
At Reg's funeral, the Rector spoke movingly of his many fine
qualities and his service to the Church. Many of us will remember
Reg as the guardian of the parish documents in his days as
churchwarden, and the obliging way with which he would open up the
vestry safe, often at decidedly unsocial hours, to allow us to
inspect them.
Bart was a founder member of the Barwick-in-Elmet Historical
Society. He was an enthusiastic local historian and provided the
historical background for his many drawings. He helped to compile
our first publication, "Bygone Barwick", a book of photographs. He
was on the editorial board of "The Barwicker" and contributed to
every edition with his fine drawings and penmanship, and elegant
prose. His recreation of those vanished features of Barwick life,
the mill and the parish pump, will be long remembered not only for
his marvellous skill as an artist but his imagination in
representing them from a "helicopter" viewpoint. which would have
been unfamiliar even to those who were living at the time.
For many people, Bart will be best remembered for his superb
"Pen Sketches of Barwick-in-Elmet" which was published in
November. This was entirely his own creation. He made the
selection from his many drawings and researched his own hand-
written notes. He was pleased with the result and was happy that
it has been so well received. Bart also contributed to local
publications such as "The Dalesman" and his "Sketches around
Skyrack" are at present being featured in the "Skyrack Express".
Bart and Reg were well-known Barwick characters. The village
will miss their cheery personalities and much-valued contributions
to local life. Perhaps above all, they will be remembered as good
friends.