Condolence Book for Barbara Lethbridge  




Please leave a few words in memoriam to Barbara.



Name: Gemma Riche
Email: gemma_riche@hvgb.net

Datum: Sonntag, 16 Mai, 2004 um 05:00:45
Kommentar:
I just got up the nerve to properly read all the wonderful things said about mom and although many of you never got the opportunity to meet her in person I know that she valued you all very much as her Dunnett family. I have starteed the hatefull process of cleaning out her house and although many of her books may be passed on to family and friends her Dunnett books will not. I hope to be able to enjoy them as much as she did. Who knows ... someday I may be a member of one of your groups. I think that what you've done here is amazing and I am sure that mom likes it as well. Take care Gemma Riche (Barbaras Daughter)

Name: Simon Hedges
Email: shedges@hhhh.freeserve.co.uk

Datum: Dienstag, 13 April, 2004 um 22:21:48
Kommentar:
Barbara was fun, and caring and could google for for Britain and Canada! Each time I pass a casino, or talk about the Nikado or see the King William Quiz I shall think of Barbara. And in Malta, in 2005, Barbara will be remembered by us all.

Name: Heike Meyer

Datum: Montag, 22 März, 2004 um 13:54:03
Kommentar:
She was a good friend. I miss her.

Name: Elizabeth Holden
Email: azurite@rogers.com

Datum: Montag, 22 März, 2004 um 02:23:46
Kommentar:
I was so pleased to meet Barbara on several occasions and always delighted to see a message from her in my mailbox. She was ingenious and unique - so remarkable in many ways. I miss her.

Name: Ingrid Hummelshoj
Email: hjem@look.ca

Datum: Samstag, 20 März, 2004 um 08:34:52
Kommentar:
I was very sad to hear of Barbara Lethbridge's passing. I did, in fact, meet her once -- we shared a busride back to Edinburgh after G2K. Barbara, Tina and Alayne were the only Canadians I met at the conference, and I didn't really meet Barbara until after. Anyway, it was a jolly busride, the time passing quickly as we rehashed the conference events and of course The Nikado production. She was full of fun and charm and intelligence. Let's hope she's sharing a chuckle or two with Dorothy now -- and finally getting all the answers! Cheers to Barbara, Ingrid Hummelshoj Vancouver, Canada

Name: Debbie Shelton
Email: thtredeb@aol.com

Datum: Freitag, 19 März, 2004 um 22:06:41
Kommentar:
I feel so fortunate to have met Barbara at the O'Spit in Dublin and had looked forward to seeing her in New Orleans. She was such a bright spirit and will be sorely missed. My deepest sympathy goes to her family.

Name: Claudia Lane
Email: claudialane222@hotmail.com

Datum: Freitag, 19 März, 2004 um 15:43:45
Kommentar:
I was so sorry to learn about Barbara's passing and send my deepest sympathy to her family and friends. I recall meeting her briefly at Edinburgh 2000, but really only knew her electronically, through her mothering of the various DD lists she tended. She will be sorely missed by all of us list lurkers. Sincerely, Claudia Lane

Name: Viviana Castelli
Email: isettecentoventiseix@yahoo.it

Datum: Freitag, 19 März, 2004 um 13:56:37
Kommentar:
I only knew Barbara online, through the Claes list, but I always felt she came through very vividly as a real person with her quickwitted comments, brilliant insights and multicoloured sense of humour. She must really have had an outstanding personality to made such an impression on so many different people who only knew her as bits and pixels. If this was how she impressed me, how terribly must she be missed by those who knew her in the flesh. My heartfelt condolences to them all. Viviana from Italy

Name: Philippa O'Keefe
Email: pbhampton@supanet.com

Datum: Donnerstag, 18 März, 2004 um 12:03:07
Kommentar:
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to Barbara's family. Like many people on the list I didn't have the pleasure of meeting her in person but greatly enjoyed reading her posts which will be gratly missed. Philippa

Name: Kathleen Gomez
Email: kagomez@hotmail.com

Datum: Dienstag, 16 März, 2004 um 05:09:48
Kommentar:
Barbara's witty postings on Marzipan will be much missed. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to meet her in person. My smpathy goes out to her friends and family.

Name: Mary Bristow
Email: mfb@cafes.net

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 22:01:30
Kommentar:
It is a bittersweet wonder of this electronic age that we can feel a sense of personal loss of one known only through blips sent through the ether. Barbara's humor and insight consistently showed through this ethereal connection and I will miss her.

Name: Sylvia
Email: Seunger@t-online.de

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 21:09:13
Kommentar:
I met Barbara at E 2000. We were seated together during dinner at Sterling Castle. Barbara was as funny and witty in nature as we knew her from the web. Impossible to forget her. Sylvia from Darmstadt in Germany

Name: Penny Thompson
Email: pennythompson@tvgdevelopment.com

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 18:54:55
Kommentar:
I, like many others, never met Barbara in the flesh, but always enjoyed her posts on many lists, and the amazing amount of information she could produce on, seemingly, any topic which came up. I had so hoped to meet her in New Orleans - she was one of the first to book her hotel room, and she had already booked her flight when she became ill. When I had a problem with my Yahoo lists one time, she immediately e-mailed me to tell me what to do to solve the problem. She was a delight and will be greatly missed. My condolences to her family and many friends. Penny Thompson

Name: Janet Angelini
Email: janet@angelini.plus.com

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 15:36:49
Kommentar:
I only knew Barbara by her mails to the GoK list, but they were pertinent and exceptionally informative. She will be missed. My sympathy to her family and friends. Janet

Name: Pat Barker
Email: patlbarker@sympatico.ca

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 15:36:43
Kommentar:
Dear Gemma, Fred, and Katelyn, It's very hard to say goodbye to Barbara. She was such an enjoyable, creative force, and as you know, our own St Isadore, patron saint of the Internet! (she did have that fascination with collection of saints!)I first met Barbara in Philadelphia (the Nikado), later in Bray, and then enjoyed so much her stay here with husband Dave and me in Grimsby, on her Niagara-Toronto visit. Her love of casinos is well-known, and she waited patiently, (well, for Barbara,) until we dropped her off at the cherished Casino, where she spent several happy hours. That aside, one of the things I'll remember about Barbara was her lovely speaking voice. Way back when,(1997-8?) as a very new Dunnett list member bursting to the brim to make some real contact, I called Barbara at the hotel where she was staying during a visit to Toronto. Her fun and honesty came zinging over the phone lines: no she did not like Nicholas, no, he was a buffoon--and the actors she recommended for his portrayal in our interminable casting games certainly attested to that! Laughably ugly. She mellowed after Gemini, she assured me years later, but Lymond remained her love. Again,this past while during the difficult months of her illness, it was her voice on the phone that remained unchanged, as brave and cheerful and honest as ever. As so many, will miss the wonderfully informative sites proffered on line, along with her off-list jokes and personal exchanges. Her pictures and stories of "Nakelty" (back when she was three) were charming, and her deep caring and pride in her family a constant. Will miss that, will miss her presence on the DD lists, and will miss hearing her voice. Thinking of you in your great loss, Pat from Grimsby, ON

Name: Jenny Ruth Smith, Wantage, UK
Email: orkneyvole@yahoo.co.uk

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 15:03:10
Kommentar:
I am very grateful to have had the chance to have known Barbara. I will always remember her as one of the founding voices of the Marzipan list that welcomed and drew me in to Dunnettdom. She was a source of wit, spice, cunning argument and obscure but frequently hilarious pieces of incidental information. She seemingly prised this information out of the internet with the skill of master fly fisher extracting salmon from a mountain stream. To many of us she was also a solid source of practical knowledge of how to keep afloat in the new found sea of the internet and email lists. Meeting her at both Edinburgh 2000 and O'Spit was an absolute delight especially as on both occasions I had the pleasure of taking part in performances with her. Barbara was not without her flaws. I refer not to her love of G&Ts and casinos, which just illuminate her whole-bodied embrace of life, but her lack of passion for Lord of the Rings and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, we easily overcame this slight difference in views as we were both fans of Terry Pratchett, whose books, no doubt, appealed to her well developed sense of the ridiculous. I was disappointed when she was not able to come to Y'all Spit as planned. We did briefly consider masquerading as aunt and niece to acquire a further reduction in the hotel room rates, but dropped the plan as too complicated. I am now very sad that I will never have the opportunity of seeing her again. Having known her, if only a little and for a short while, will always be a treasure in my life.

Name: Pam Thomas
Email: pam.thomas@dsl.pipex.com

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 13:45:20
Kommentar:
I only met Barbara briefly at E2000 but the memory stays with me of her sharp wit and down-to-earth manner. My heart goes out to her family, who have lost so much more of her than I was ever able to know. Pam

Name: Petra Cmiel

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 11:31:27
Kommentar:
As many others I did not meet Barbara personally but really enjoyed her postings on several lists. Above all I appreciated Barbara's results on serching which helped a lot in understanding DD. Wherever her star is shining now I would like to wish her a good journey, and my sympathy is with her entire family and close friends. Petra Cmiel, Hamburg, Germany

Name: Claire Eamer
Email: claire@yknet.ca

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 07:26:00
Kommentar:
I knew Barbara online only - through dunnetwork and CanaDDian - but enjoyed her intelligence, humour, and fantastic set of weblinks. Here, in a rather remote northwestern corner of Canada, I always enjoyed the idea that I was matched in my enthusiasms by someone in an equally remote northeastern corner of Canada. Now we are unbalanced by this loss. My sympathy to Barbara's family, who have lost so much more. Claire, in Whitehorse

Name: Shane Marshall
Email: ssmarsh@ozemail.com.au

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 04:34:41
Kommentar:
I have only ever known Barbara on the Dunnett website lists. However, I think we both joined on about Day 1 of Marzipan being set up and so I feel I have known Barbara as a friend for all of this time. I always enjoyed reading her comments and the quotes and pithy sayings she would leave at the end of her messages. My thoughts go to her loved ones at this time of sorrow and I know that we too, her Dorothy Dunnett family, will miss her. Vale, Barbara.

Name: Barbara Hoffman
Email: barbara_hoffman@yahoo.com

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 04:21:51
Kommentar:
I only knew "the other Barbara" from the lists, but valued her commentaries and insights as I struggled to understand many of the hidden meanings of my favorite books. She will be missed.

Name: Sarah Lingle

Datum: Montag, 15 März, 2004 um 01:29:25
Kommentar:
I never got to meet Barbara in person, but I will miss reading her comments on Marzipan. To her family, remember that although it won't ever be the same without her, it will be good again someday.

Name: Rose Helmberger
Email: rmhelm@chorus.net

Datum: Sonntag, 14 März, 2004 um 21:50:33
Kommentar:
Although I did not have the opportunity to meet Barbara, I feel I knew her through her wonderful posts, links to web sites, the paintings she posted on Claes, and a couple of off-list exchanges we had. I do wish I had met her. Condolences to all her family and friends; I know you will dearly miss her, as will we all. Rose

Name: diana crane
Email: dcrane@care4free.net

Datum: Sonntag, 14 März, 2004 um 13:02:50
Kommentar:
I met Barbara in the flesh twice, in Edinburgh and Dublin, but felt much closer to her than that. I have very happy memories of sharing an Indian meal with her and another couple of Dunnett friends after failing to meet up with the rest of our party in Princes Street. I would love to have heard more of her life story - I imagine she would have had some fascinating stories to tell. What a web-witch she was - always able to find an interesting web connection on any topic. She really made her rather out-of-the-way home the centre of a world of connections. I am going to ask the Borders Forest Trust, who plant native trees in the Borders, to plant an oak and an alder in memory of her in Dunnettland. My sincere condolences to the family - we have lost a real friend.

Name: Bel
Email: gbachman@computan.on.ca

Datum: Sonntag, 14 März, 2004 um 04:00:23
Kommentar:
Barbara was unique, witty and warm, silly and sarcastic. She brought to the Dunnett online world her love of DD's work and her enthusiastic embrace of all things techno. She was just a great moderator making sure that all of us had clear access to the lists and all the wonders cyberspace and Barbara's links could provide. At CanaDDian, we will miss our Lady of Labrador. We didn't always agree, but we always knew where we stood with each other. I admired her honesty, her generosity, and her indefatigable love of adventure. Most of all, I admired her courage. Fair winds and following seas, Barbara, on your journey.

Name: Marilyn Barry
Email: mmbarry@sympatico.ca

Datum: Sonntag, 14 März, 2004 um 02:07:20
Kommentar:
I read Dorothy Dunnett's books alone for thirty six years and when I decided to go to Edinburgh in 2000 for the Gathering the first person and Dunnett reader I met was Barbara who introduce herself to me. She was my special "first". Later,In Toronto, I was fortunate to spend more time with her. Barbara had an encyclopedic knowledge of wonderful internet sites she shared with us. I learned much from her. To Gemma and family, my sincere condolences for your loss. She will be so sadly missed by you and all her friends in Dunnettland.

Name: Beth Rambo
Email: munoko@yahoo.com

Datum: Sonntag, 14 März, 2004 um 00:35:56
Kommentar:
Barbara's postings on the Dunnett lists were always worth reading--including her clever and unusual taglines. Although I only met her once, at the Dublin O'Spit, it was clear that her life was filled with so many interests and projects. I know we are not the only people who will be missing her. Condolences to her family and friends.

Name: Cheryl Grothaus
Email: clg9@columbia.edu

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 21:21:56
Kommentar:
I was so sorry to hear about Barbara's death, and I enjoyed meeting her several times, the last one in Dublin for O'Spit. She was great! I particularly enjoyed her tart sense of humor.

Name: glee cady
Email: glee@ix.netcom.com

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 20:28:10
Kommentar:
I extend my condolences to Barbara's friends and family. I am sure, like we who didn't meet her in person, they will miss her lively intelligence, her friendly informative-ness, and her ability to find relevant information and send it to us quickly. We all will have to work harder outselves to find out things now.

Name: Sue Cone
Email: suecone@mindspring.com

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 19:32:06
Kommentar:
I only knew Barbara from the lists, and am saddened at her passing - one of the Dunnett community who has gone on before us....I am so sorry...

Name: Lynne Connolly
Email: lynneconnollyuk@yahoo.co.uk

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 16:28:51
Kommentar:
I never met Barbara in person but know her from the Dunnett lists she was on. I liked her very much. She added a great deal to discussions and always used the leavening of humour to defuse situations when needed. I will miss her.

Name: Jo Kirkham
Email: jo.kirkham@virgin.net

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 11:49:26
Kommentar:
What a loss to the Dunnett Community is Barbara's passing away! But we still have her ideas - and some of the hundreds of great web links only she could find for us! I first met Barbara in person when she came to Rye - I met her at the station after the chugging journey across Romney Marsh! She was considering moving here to live at that time. Coincidentally - at exactly the same time - arrived Jo Beverley. We had a truly great day talking Dunnett and I got a group of Dunnett folks to come to Rye to chat over lunch to join us - and wow - was there some 'definitive' (G)interpretations of the Dunnett books discovered at that long, long discussion. Further meetings at Edinburgh (with the memorable Nikado highlights) and Dublin, strengthened our friendship and I was so very sorry when she had to pull out of the New Orleans Spit - Barbara having found the hotel which several of us stayed at, before and after the Gathering. I appreciated her knowledge and loved her quirky sense of humour - and I will miss her so much. Her family must be so sad and I send my condolences to them.

Name: Helen de Mink
Email: helen.demink@wanadoo.fr

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 11:13:14
Kommentar:
I had the pleasure to meet Barbara in Dublin. It was great fun to hear her play the keyboard and make musical jokes at the most unexpected moments. We had a great time together. I loved her posts and she taught me a great deal about Saints. She was a great lady and will be sorely missed. My sympathies go to her family.

Name: Marc Line

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 09:37:34
Kommentar:
I am in the suckling of a babe, new born; I am in the spark that lights the torch of dawn; I am in the star that steers the homeward bound, Seek me there; not lost am I, but found. I am in the vapour trail that cuts across the blue; I am the laughing water in the river we both knew; I am the tender leaf, unfurled to greet the spring, I am released: be joyful. Sing! With fond memories of a lovely lady. Fare thee well, Barbara. XXX

Name: Claudia

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 08:01:15
Kommentar:
Most of the time, I was a lurker on Marzipan only. I never met her in person, but she greeted me warmly on the list, when I was posting my one or two mails. But still, although I was not a regular on Marzipan, when I heard the news, I was shocked. Barbara was someone I knew through her witty and intelligent postings. How deep an impression she made even by distance- I can only guess at the depth of loss all feel who met her or were family. I am certain, that Barbara, wherever she is, adds a significant sparkle. Best wishes to all Claudia, Frankfurt / Germany

Name: Elizabeth Russon
Email: elizabethr1@rogers.com

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 06:12:39
Kommentar:
I only met Barbara once at Tina's place but found her a joy to talk to and a real laugh. She will be greatly missed in the Dunnett community.

Name: Tina Dallas

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 05:38:46
Kommentar:
My memories of Barbara will always be musical, since I first met her during the Nikado, and then had the pleasure of hearing her play keyboards as part of the lively musical entertainment in Dublin. Her contribution to our online community will be missed, as will be her enthusiasm for searching out the answer to many a question or puzzle. I offer my deepest condolences to her family.

Name: Mickey Thies
Email: jermickey@sbcglobal.net

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 02:33:16
Kommentar:
Good bye dear friend, I will miss your wit, wisdom, and friendship over these last five years. The foreman of the jury and I will miss you for all the fun times tipping a few in Edinburgh and Dublin. You were all that was the best in the DD community. I will treasure our last phone conversation together, only you, dear Barbara, could make it so funny. I just hope that all of our words put down here will help Gemma and Katelyn in the months ahead. Barbara was a true original person and one great lady. You will be missed. Jerry and Mickey

Name: Margaret Rudd

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 00:57:17
Kommentar:
I remember her in Dublin at O'Spit. She was one of the notable names from the lists I really looked forward to meeting, and I remember being surprised that she was rather shyer in person than she was online, though every bit as smart. I remember her at the O'Spit musical performance singing the Lymond verse of the Vicar of Bray song in her thin, sweet soprano and cheerfully playing the keyboard for our endless rehearsals. I chatted with her when we were at Newgrange, about Terry Pratchett and other things, and I remember she didn't go in to the tomb because of claustrophobia. She also emailed me off list when we agreed about an issue on openforum. Since I didn't know really know her except on the list, I was truly shocked that her death came so soon after we first knew of her illness. I wish I'd had time to know her better.

Name: Martine

Datum: Samstag, 13 März, 2004 um 00:01:26
Kommentar:
I have met Barbara on the lists and two times in reality, but it is hard to believe that she is gone. Her passing leaves a great gap. She was a very special person, a real Dunnett reader, I like to say, witty, sharp and with this certain kind of lively humour, I appreciate so much. She moved people with her jokes, with her kindness, with her humour and her wit and while she moved people she moved the world. Her spirit will be missed so much and it is a little consolation that it lives on in the people she has met, and who remember her. Martine Däuwel, Berlin, Germany

Name: Anne Dance
Email: adancestu@yahoo.ca

Datum: Freitag, 12 März, 2004 um 23:30:31
Kommentar:
Barbara was a wonderful, intelligent woman and I feel priviliged to have known her for a short time over the net. My condolences to her family and friends, -Anne Dance, Fredericton, NB

Name: Ann Scott
Email: prunes@redshift.com

Datum: Freitag, 12 März, 2004 um 21:55:35
Kommentar:
I never met you, but I certainly enjoyed your posts and your friendliness when "unbouncing me". Ann Scott

Name: Roberta Bucher
Email: rbucher@dandp.com

Datum: Freitag, 12 März, 2004 um 21:43:10
Kommentar:
I so enjoyed Barbara's posts to the Dunnett discussion lists. What a gracious lady! She will be sorely missed.

Name: Olive DePonte

Datum: Freitag, 12 März, 2004 um 21:20:22
Kommentar:
I never had the privilege of meeting Barbara in person, but had numerous on- and off-list contacts with her, as she was one of my turn-to people for list administration problems. She also graciously agreed to join GameofKings for the King Hereafter read, and was such a joy to interact with. My heartfelt sympathies go to her family. I can only imagine that one of the reasons she left us so quickly is that Dorothy needed to discuss some more KH research with her. Or that Dorothy has met Thorfinn/MacBeth and wanted to share!

Name: Nancy Wright

Datum: Freitag, 12 März, 2004 um 20:53:20
Kommentar:
I first met Barbara at Edinburgh 2000 working as fellow cast members on "The Nikado." But I had known her for her wonderful posts, her amazing ability to find the answer online to anyone's question, her wit and her gentle sense of humor. She had a larger-than-life aura around her, yet she was never above it all. I will miss her wisdom and her wonderful way with words. She was one of the first people to welcome me on Dunnett lists and also emailed me personally on some issues when we agreed but others didn't. She was unique. Nancy Wright Pasadena, California USA