Both metaphorically and literally this is the Last Post for Babs.  

Some people have been very kind - reading and complimenting the content and appreciating the sentiment of these articles.  Others have wondered what all the fuss is about. Wondered why bother?

Babs started the series back in August 2009.  She wanted to write down her stories to there after she'd gone.  She wanted grandchildren, and their children, and their children, to have first hand accounts of ancestors lives, and to make them easy to find.

Over the last couple of years we've added the odd article - particularly pictures from her albums - all to the same purpose - writing down history as seen by somebody who was there.  Since Babs passed away we've continued the theme and added our own accounts of this particular history as it happened

And now we've reached the end of the story.  Play the Last Post because this is the last post in the series.  Here's a list of, and links to, the individual pages.

Hope you enoy something here.

Steven Reeves

Babs Reunited With Bill

Babs Returns to Her Family and Roots

Babs Samways - a Eulogy

And the other side to Babs told by close family

Babs in the Oxford Mail and Wantage Herald

Babs life in 41 pictures, from 8 to 81

Chris and Maggie's Visit in July 2011

Babs 80th Birthday Party in Video

One of Babs many sewing triumphs in her church in Grove

How Babs Met Bill - told by Babs herself for the BBC Inside Lives programme

Babs and Bill's family and friends all got together for Vicki's christening and are pictured here in the garden at Wilwyn, 4 Garston Close, Wantage.

Evacuated During the War - in Babs own words

Babs Own Tribute to Her Grandfather - Wilfred Stevens Prior

Babs Own Story At The Start of the War

The Prior Family in Photographs

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So often I catch myself thinking

About special times spent with you,

Laughter and fun shared, 

Secrets told, 

And promises kept.

Babs loved Bill to bits.  He rescued her from very dark days after she divorced Syd Reeves.  

She'd always wanted her own business - Bill helped her start the shop and make it work.  He did all of the cooking, most of the housework, kept the shop books, and installed curtain track for customers.

She'd always wanted her own house.  Together the bought and built and furnished and decorated a new home.  They called it WilWyn.  It was home for the couple for 25 years, till Bill passed away in 1997.  It was home for Babs, full of memories of Bill for another 14 years.  Number 4 Garston Close was their haven into which they welcomed everybody. Bill made that possible.

She liked to travel.  Bill took her all over the world to exotic places.  For a while they kept a caravan at Llafranc in northern Spain and invited family and close friends to enjoy it with them.  For another while their favourite destination was a hotel in the Dordogne, southern France.  They went on cruises.  We have pictures of the couple in their finery, dining at the Captains Table. They visited the Far East, India, Hong Kong, China, New Zealand, USA, Caribbean, Nordic countries.  They had a ball, and Bill made it all possible.

Babs loved Bill to bits.

When Bill's health was decimated by stroke Babs cared for him.  She was nurse and coach and carer and cook.  Nothing was too much for Bill.

Bill didn't have much time for religion.  When the time came he wanted no part of churches or graveyards.  He wanted to stay forever atop the Berkshire Downs looking north to Wantage and beyond.  This place was on the Locking Estate, Babs home in her earlier years.  It belonged to her as much as the descendants of Lord Wantage.  Babs had no problem with the gates to the private road.

That's where Bill's ashes were scattered.  She figured if it was good enough for Lord Wantage, it would also be suitable for Bill.  This is a spot where nobody would ever walk.  Out of the way and peaceful, but powerful because of the view.

When the time came, Babs wanted to be with Bill.  I was left in no doubt. Her will specified where her ashes should be scattered, and many times she reiterated that to me in conversation.

Unfortunately the decision about where Babs ashes would be laid to rest turned out to be contentious.  Understandable family wishes were confirmed by her priest.  Babs was conflicted it seems.  On the one hand she wanted to rest with Bill on the Downs.  On the other she felt a responsibility to be with her family, in Ardington.  That's what her priest told us, and I'm sure he was right.

We decided to lay her to rest in Ardington.  We couldn't identify the precise spot where Bill was placed. Her priest explained her conflict, and her family had strong views.  In the end it came down to conscience, and it was mine that ended up with the problem.

Only a few days later we discovered a neighbour and close friend knew exactly where Babs put Bill to rest.  Unfortunately too late.  So we decided to do the next best thing - have a commemoration on the spot leaving something of Babs in the same place.  Her ashes might not be there, but at least some of her spirit would.

The B4494 goes from Wantage to Newbury - up Chain Hill, past the Foundry, and up to the Ridgeway and the monument to Lord Wantage  This used to be a Sunday afternoon drive when we were kids, maybe for a picnic if the weather was good. Lord Wantage's family chose this particular spot for his monument.  It's special up here sitting on top of the Downs with a clear view. 

The Ridgeway is famous in these parts, and further afield to some.  This was built by the Romans, all the way from London to Bath.  Where it crosses the B4494 there's a small car park, from where it's just a few hundred yards walk to the Monument.  From the same car park there's a private road going down to Ginge, and Lockinge, and Ardington.  There's a locked gate to keep strangers out, but from the Ridgeway its easy to cross the ditch on foot into the triangle of land between the road and the Ridgeway.  Sixty or so yards from the gate and in the middle of the triangle is where Babs scattered Bill's ashes and where we paid our tribute to Babs, and to Bill for the happy couple they were.  The satellite picture shows the ground.

We burned the pictures you see in the gallery, and scattered the ashes.  We buried the small plate you see here.  Of all Babs possessions we came across, this plate was the most poignant.  They'd obviously bought it in Grenanda and cherished it ever since.  The words on the plate explain what it meant to them, and to us when deciding what to leave there.  And that's why they're quoted at the top of the page.

Of course it's only symbolic.  So would the ashes have been.

Of course its sentimental.  So what's so wrong about that?

Are Babs and Bill together again.  We like to think so.

And in the end, that's what counts.

Steven Reeves

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Babs returned to her roots and her family on September 8th 2011 when her ashes were interred in the graveyard of the church in Ardington.

This album of pictures shows the church from the outside, the inside and the rear graveyard.

Walk around the church and stand with your back to the Millenium window, facing the field.  Straight ahead and half way to the bottom of the graveyard you'll find the grave of two of Babs favourite people, grandfather Wilfred and grandmother Annie, pictured here is the scolled headstone.

Now turn slightly left toward the far left hand corner. At the bottom of the field, right by the fence, you'll find two graves, pictured here.

In the grave closest to the fence, and shown here without a headstone or floral tribute lie Babs sister Anne, and Anne's father Horace Lanfear - Babs stepfather.

The grave on the church side is for Babs mother, Winifred Alice Prior, married as Lewis and subsequently as Lanfear, and Babs granddaughter Vikki Reeves, and now Babs herself.

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Well not quite.  But this is the closest we'll ever get of everybody on the Bill and Babs axis of family members and good friends in 1982.

If you'd like a copy just hover your cursor over the photo and click the download link.

Babs never shirked a challenge in her life, and certainly never said no to a difficult sewing problem.

Her ability to take on and deliver any seamstress task was reinforced last weekend.

We went to a memorial service for dear departed at Babs church in Grove. After the service  several parishoners asked if we knew about the curtains she'd made for the church hall.

The picture shows the hall window which takes up the whole wall, virtually from floor to eaves.

Apparently a local engineer designed the drapes. Babs sourced the fabric, hired special machines, and with a couple of willing helpers made the curtains over a weekend.

She had to sit on the floor next to the machines because the floor was the only surface big enough to lay out the fabric.

The parishioners remember Babs everytime they use the hall.

Looking at this sewing feat its easy to understand why.

Please feel free to download any of these pictures and print for your own albums - just hover your cursor over the picture and you'll see an option to download.

Steven

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And there was another side to Babs which wasn't properly described in my eulogy.  My apologies to you, and especially to Babs - Steven.

Reading all the generous comments made on Babs Facebook Wall helped me understand what I'd missed, and make up for that omission with this additional, and perhaps more lighthearted account.

Babs could be a lot of fun too, and irreverent, and a fierce supporter of women's right to a full say in whatever went on.

There was always this slightly irreverent edge.  She didn't think titles or roles or money defined people.  Anybody she knew would be measured by their attitude, their generosity, their humillity and reliability.  Behaviour determines worth, not wealth or fame.  That principle has done much to shape my life, and guide me when the right response wasn't clear.

She could be very funny, and extremely rude, with outrageous comment on virtually anything.  And often was.

And she constantly told stories.  Every conversation turned into a story.  She'd break off in the middle of any conversation and refer to a story, only to break into that and refer to yet another story.  Children would be entertained forever.  Casual visitors would be welcome to sit and join in.  People in a hurry would be embarrassed when Babs would say "And there's another thing.  Have I told you about?"

The best illustration of  how this other side of Babs impacted everybody around her is quotes from comments on her Facebook Wall.

Gareth Reeves

Babs was my grandmother. Going to visit was always a bit of an adventure as their house was full of collectibles from around the world and the places that she and her late husband Bill had travelled. The place that we spent the most time was the 'shop'. I remember exploring all three levels, each one going deeper into what seemed like another world. She was a strong lady but also could be very kind and caring.

Claire Reeves

Babs didn't like to be called Grandma, she said it made her feel like an old lady. When she turned 80 I teased her and asked if she was old enough to call her Grandma yet. She was never an old lady.

When I was a little girl I spent a lot of time with Babs. She used to tell me stories, mainly about her childhood and when she was evacuated. She was very animated and my imagination ran wild.

Over the last few years I have grown very close to Babs again, this time as an adult. Although you might think I was still a child the way she'd fuss over me! She has been a huge support to me over the recent past and I hope I to her too. Our relationship once again was about great chats. I'd ask her to tell me the stories over again. I always wanted to take them with me when she would no longer be around to tell them.

I will miss talking to her, her stories, her, advice, guidance and support. People say I'm very much like her and that makes me happy and very proud. I'll take her with me. Claireree

Jackie Reeves

I have many great memories of Babs, we had a lot of laughs when we worked together in the shop. She was so enthusiastic about all types of needlework and is responsible for the immense pleasure I have had from knitting, crochet and needlepoint. She taught me so much.

The most recent precious memory I have is the day we went to the Sandham Memorial Chapel. It was a beautiful sunny day and Babs had been before and she was in a lot of pain that day but she made a supreme effort to accompany me and take pleasure in my enjoyment of the wonderful Stanley Spencer paintings. Afterwards we went for a drive through Ardington and she reminded me of all the family connections and memories. We had such a nice time together.

Lauri Reeves

When Dylan and I were talking about things this weekend he said he was going to call her "Great Gramdma" at the funeral and he figured that would get her to jump up to say "Don't call me that. Call me Babs!"

I only just met Babs this past Christmas and spent nearly everyday of our holiday sitting next to her listening to stories. She expressed so much gratitude for her family, her friends and her life. She talked about the people she cared about with great enthusiasm, had lots of opinions and so much goodwill. Such a strong woman! I know she was thrilled to meet her great-grandson, who flew his helicopter all over the room, bouncing it off the walls, crashing it into lights, TV and Christmas tree, much to my horror and her delight.

It was one of the best Christmases ever. I am fortunate to have known her for even such a short time.

Emma Jack

so many lovely memories of Babs and such a terrific character from my childhood. Very grateful for your comments more recently about me and how you saw me and how you see me now. Will hold those close always. 

Babs was a fantastic Grandma to me and such a thoughtful great grandma to my children.  

I am in Spain just now, which seems fitting somehow as my first visit here was with GB and AB when I was about ten (how generous of them to take three children on holiday without their parents).  We camped across France to Spain and my memories of that are filled with her naughty sense of humour, her hysterical attempts to speak foreign languages and her irreverance around pretty much everything.

Babs wan't my blood grandma but she was always my grandma and I loved her.  She will always be with me.

Tiggey May

She was a spirited, funny, always engaging, and as you say opinionated woman, who we (Samantha, Emma and me) fondly called AB - Bud was GB. She introduced my sisters and me to the joy of custard doughnuts on our camping trips in Spain and made us the most fantastic quilts for our beds. She will be missed by me and I will always remember her with a smile on my face.

 Babs was always such a special woman in my childhood. I always remember our Spanish camping holidays with a smile on my face. Our Christmas eve gatherings were also very special and I will certainly be passing on her Father Christmas wisdom to my two girls - "If you get up on Christmas day before it is light all your christmas presents will fly out of the window" - it certainly kept us in bed! I still play her numberplate game when I'm in the car on long journeys - never as successfully as her or Bud.

 It was so obvious for all to see that her and Bud adored one another - I'm so pleased that they found one another and had such a special time together.

 More recently I have had quite a lot of contact with Babs and not so long ago spent a lovely Sunday lunch with her - laughing, eating and remembering. I'm so pleased we both made the effort to get back in touch, it was such a shame we lost contact for a bit.

Liz Green

 She was a great friend.She always had so many interesting memories to share. I just called in for ten minutes but would reluctantly leave two hours later. She will be missed.

Tina Lloyd

She was such a lovely lady - always made us feel very welcome in her home and and was excellent company. A pleasure to have known her.

Sue Bradbury

We have many happy memories of the times we spent with Babs. She was a great character - we are so happy that we managed to catch up with her again last month. She will be missed.