Barbara (mum) was born Barbara Marian Sutherland on 21st October 1922 in Shanghai China. She was the second child of Alfred Patrick Sutherland and Ida Marian Sutherland.
Barbara was a sister for her elder brother Ian.

Her father worked with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank; later working for the Shanghai Municipal Council.

We were never to meet our grandfather so we know little about him. However we do know that as a Scot he expected that porridge should be flavoured with salt whilst mum preferred sugar which had to be sneaked on whilst he was not looking.

The family must have enjoyed a comfortable life style in Shanghai with a nanny and cook/maid to keep the house.

Barbara went to school in Shanghai (she was transported by rickshaw). Mum often said that she struggled with maths at school which again did not please her father who was an accountant.

We also know that mum attended dance classes in Shanghai

The family enjoyed summer holidays in Japan staying several times at a village called Mogi near Nagasaki.

The family continued to live in Shanghai until 1938 with long service visits to the UK every 5 years.

These visits would have required a 5-6 week sea journey not the 14 hours direct flight of today. There would have been stops in Singapore, Penang, Columbo and a trip through the Suez canal which mum recalled.

When stopping in Columbo the family would meet with Uncle Ian; who was a brother to our grandfather. Uncle Ian ran a tea plantation “up country” in Ceylon now Sri Lanka.

After completing her education Barbara trained during war time as a nurse at a number of hospitals including the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. Over these years she made some life long friends Hilda, Sheila and Poppy.

The years 1943 to 1945 were to prove challenging to Barbara with the loss of her father to cancer and her brother Ian who was killed in action in Burma.

In April 1945 our father Trouper Herbert Clements sustained a head injury whilst serving as a wireless operator with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment in Italy.

In time this injury was to bring Herbert to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary for surgery where Barbara was to nurse Herbert.

A friendship was clearly struck which led to a romance.

Mum and dad courted over a long distance for several years whilst mum continued working in Derby and Manchester where she completed the Part 1 Midwife Training.

Dad must have travelled to visit mum on several occasions.

During these visits apparently mum had to sneak out and back into the nurses home at night through a window.

Herbert and Barbara were married at St Oswalds Church Ashbourne Derbyshire on July 8th 1950.

Mum, Sally and I visited the church a few years ago on our last visit to see her good friend Sheila in Macclesfield. Mum was particularly pleased as this was a surprise stop for her.

With marriage Barbara moved to Lakenheath and she continued to work for a short while at the Thetford Cottage Hospital.

In September 1951 my brother Raymond Ian was born at Newmarket Hospital.

In 1953 the family moved to Bury St Edmunds initially to Fornham Road where they were joined by our Granny Sutherland.

In the following year Pamela was born, John and Mary were to follow.

Barbara was a full time mum for many years managing the house, cooking and caring for her children.

In particular she enjoyed knitting, dress making and baking.

I am reminded of an incident at Pam and Pauls wedding reception where two grandmothers sat next to each other. As the room had been called to silence for grace Granny Sutherland was heard to say quite loudly “Barbara made the cake you know”.

For a while Barbara returned to nursing part time at the West Suffolk Hospital in the mid seventies.

Over the years Barbara and Herbert were to move three times to Hardwick Lane, Flempton and finally to Westgarth Gardens.

Barbara attended each of her local parish churches St Johns, St Catherine’s Flemptonand St Peters. She was involved in the church activities and organisations (bible study, mothers union, tea and chat).

Mum was quite private about her faith but it was an important part of her life.

Barbara became involved with Oxfam working in their shop on Saturday afternoons and for period she also assisted the Samaritans.

With retirement Barbara and Herbert were able to enjoy some overseas travel with a variety of European tours.

They were to make two long distance tours.

Firstly to Canada where they travelled from Toronto to Vancouver.

Secondly they travelled to Australia visiting Perth, Sydney and Brisbane. On both of these trips they took the opportunity to visit and meet with cousins.

Grandchildren Katie, Lucy, Adam and Kimberly were born over the years and Barbara was there to help her daughters in the days after they came home with the new born. Barbara loved to hear news of the grandchildren and took delight whenever she could visit Bournemouth where Pamela lived or when any of the grandchildren came to visit at home in Bury.

Later years were to prove sad as both Herbert and Raymond were to suffer with dementia conditions. Barbara continued to care for Herbert for as long as she could.

In 2005 mum and I flew up to Scotland to attend a Sutherland Clan Gathering.

Easyjet were most helpful arranging for a lift to help mum off the plane at Inverness and Luton.

This trip wad last chance for mum to wear her Sutherland tartan kilt at the highland ball.

This was an occasion not sure I wish to repeat. With many in-experienced highland dancers amongst us; most were moving forward when they should have been going backward and vice-versa.

Thankfully somehow a train crash was averted and we all went home in one piece at the end of the evening.

Mum was delighted with the arrival of her great grandchildren Chloe and Bradley and was always interested to hear news of them.

More recently a new great granddaughter Raphaella arrived (she is here with us today). Mum was thrilled to see photos and video snippets of her and had been looking forward to seeing her.

Mum was particularly pleased when Mary married Graham.

She loved all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was very proud of us all

Throughout life’s difficulties and until her death her faith remained strong. When no longer able to attend church she received communion at home and at Fornham House from David Crofts which she particularly appreciated.

So we say farewell to mum and thank you for your love, skills, patience and fortitude.