Barbara Glover (31 Oct 1929 - 23 Jan 2025)

Barbara or Babs, as all the family called her was born in Waterside, Dartford, 31st October 1929. Her parents were Daisy and Milton Vinall. She was one of four children – Jack, Doris, Barbara, and Pauline. Her younger sister Pauline always described her as ‘a beauty’ – and she was.

As a young woman she trained and worked for the Post Office. She loved her job commuting to London from Dartford every day. This was fate and where she met the ‘love of her life’ Brian, by chance on platform one at Dartford station. Dad often recalled, he spotted her on the station platform with the sun shining through her dress – it was love at first sight. It wasn’t long before they were married and on the 17th March 1951 they tied the knot and were happily married for sixty-nine years.

Over the years Babs and Brian had four children. Christine, Jacqueline, Philip and Deborah. In the early years Mum was often alone with the children while Dad worked abroad. It was tough, money was short as Dad was working as an electrical lift engineer. Mum would walk us to school, take us for GP appointments, the dreaded haircut appointments, Jackie and Christine know too well.

Then one day, Dad arrived home with our first family car. A navy-blue Ford Anglia, registration 867 CXO. What an adventure that first drive was. We were all so excited. The start of many caravan holidays and days out by the sea particularly St. Margaret’s Bay where later in life they bought a holiday home to disappear to each weekend.

It was many years later when Dad met with the family and revealed he knew Babs had previously given birth to a baby boy David, who was given up for adoption. Only her mother Daisy and her older sister Doris knew at the time. This knowledge Mum and Dad kept very private, for many years. It was a bond they had, sometimes relating to similar stories on the television. David was always in their thoughts. We felt it was proof of the strength of their love for each other. David and his wife Nena live in America and are now part of our family, unfortunately they could not be with us today.

Mum loved a giggle and shared our brother Phil’s love of comedy and jokes. One of our fondest memories was Mum playing ‘Give Us A Clue’ at Christmas. She collapsed on the living room in a fit of laughter attempting to mime the children’s TV programme ‘Play School’ after one too many sherries!!!

She had a sweet tooth, her favourites being liquorice allsorts, sugared almonds, and coconut mushrooms. Debbie has inherited her mother’s sweet tooth. She was a dedicated Mum who was proud of her children’s achievements and always put the family first, especially at mealtimes.

As time moved on, 176 Henderson Drive (our family home) was now bursting at the seams. A wonderful home with neighbours’ children constantly playing with us in the garden, having fun in the large paddling pool that was erected on the lawn, playing darts on the garage door, and board games on the dining room table.176 was the place to be in the school summer holidays.

As we grew into young adults Mum welcomed the boyfriends (some more than others!) and girlfriends into the home with open arms. There were tears, lovers’ tiffs, and sometimes heavy debates, from politics, current affairs and discrimination at the dinner table. Phil’s views were always outnumbered by his three sisters. With our Aunt Pauline now living with us, it was a chaotic, busy family home.

As we became more independent Mum returned to work at the Post Office in Dartford as a cashier. She was thrilled to be returning to her much-loved original career. Mum loved her work and found it fulfilling and was renowned for being helpful, polite and caring to all her customers and remained there until she retired. She had a great sense of fun, a modest lady, loved and respected by all that knew and those that worked with her. She was very popular with her neighbours and friends. A modern thinking woman, she had a strong belief in fairness and equality and a great sense of humour.

In later life after retirement Mum and Dad moved to Allhallows overlooking the River Medway. A new set of friends and a different way of life. But after a short time, both had issues with their health and decided to move into Queen Mother Court, Rochester.
It was at this period in her life that she started to show early signs of dementia and sadly mum was moved into Grafton Lodge care home where she spent her remaining years.

We will all miss her. Her smile, her touch, the few words she shared with us when dementia took hold. Her love still shone through for us and her carers who helped and cared for her each day towards the end of her life. But mum was ready to join her beloved Brian, and her loving son Phil.

We will always love you.