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It was stylish and truly a celebration of Barry’s life
• THANKS to all those who helped to make Barry Sullivan’s send-off last Tuesday just what the man himself had ordered.
He did go out in style, it was noisy and it was truly a celebration of Barry’s life, short but certainly often sweet and full of rich experiences.
A big thank you to Richard Putt of Levertons who literally went the extra mile to follow Barry’s wishes, and Richard seemed to do that with pride and great style as well as with heavy heart that he would never work with Barry again. Thank you for pulling up a few doors down from Barry’s own door so that his dear beloved neighbour and closest of friends for 30 years, Doris Walker, could look out and wave her dear Barry off from Greenland Road.
Thank you to Austin’s flowers, of Parkway who made the most exquisite heart of roses and the only other flowers allowed, a pillow with three single red roses from Doris and a posy Doris had arranged that was held by a small stuffed dog, from his devoted little Rocky. Millie Goodburn, who got to know Barry through very sad circumstances when her son had died in London unknown to her and been very sadly buried beneath our dear departed Freddie Newman, also sent flowers as she was unable due to bad health to be there for Barry’s Day. Others passed red roses to us to take to the chapel if they were unable to come along themselves.
Thanks to Lisa Parkes who brought a lovely photo of Barry on canvas that sat at the rear of his coffin on the journey and throughout the service.
A big thanks, too, to Sullivan’s Buses, Lee Evans, the driver, taking it all in his stride and stating “He must’ve have been a very loved man”.
Thanks to Pat Goldsmith who remembered seeing a coach with Sullivan’s written on it and Barry saying – ‘I’ll have that for my funeral’!
It goes without saying that Red Jen made the service really something else – photographs from his childhood to date were projected throughout the service so that many there saw themselves as testament to their place in Barry’s life, the hard times and the good. Her poem dedicated to Barry and to us, as his friends, grieving.
Johnny Amobi’s added the gravitas and started the tears flowing. The pall-bearers Anthony, Mark, Steve, Paul, Sayer and Chris had the honour of carrying their dear friend to his final resting place with James in a stunning outfit following behind.
John Behan and Sean Norris for their words that were unrehearsed and truly from the heart as were those of our dear Ellen Luby, and of course Councillor Roger Robinson and Gloria Lazenby.
And now all those that made his “after-party” go with a bang. Thanks to Godwin and Crowndale Community hall for all their assistance.
To Plume, Sharon and Kay for the “shrine” to Barry, Saoirse and James for their amazing dance area and music that transformed the room into a palace befitting Barry’s own extravagant sense of style.
To Dot, Rita, Cathy Lawrie for enough sandwiches to feed an army; Anthony, Mark for his gateaux; Pat and Sue for their food, Gloria for arranging a mountain of doughnuts; Petra, Mike, Angie Emmerson, Aftab, Angie Nassar for her tandoori chicken, Angie Arthur and Joy Alert for the “Feast from the Caribbean”; Ben for supporting us all; anyone not mentioned by name (apologies) and everyone that helped set up and dismantle the whole lot by the end of the night, along with everyone else, including Princess and Rocky, who popped in to say goodbye to their friend and say “Cheers, Barry”.
Thank you to all those who made donations on the day to Camden Town Neighbourhood Advice Centre and to Marie Curie and The Blue Cross and to everyone at Camden Post Office for their support to Barry and the work of the CTNAC.
Our thoughts are with Marie, Anthony and Doris and all those in grief.
May Barry live on in our hearts and in our deeds.
CATHY POUND
Castlehaven Road, NW1
Any further donations please to: CTNAC (payable to CTNAC) to 12 St Martin’s Close, NW1 0HR
The Blue Cross (payable to The Blue Cross) to The Blue Cross, (Victoria Branch) 1-5 Hugh Street, SW1V 1QQ
Marie Curie (payable to Marie Curie Cancer Care) to Marie Curie Hampstead)
11 Lyndhurst Gardens, NW3 5NS
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