Barbara Pilkington

Barbara was born on the 14^th of June 1933 at Hall Farm, Wadworth, Doncaster, the first child of Ken and Marian Durdy and the eldest sister to Carol and Brenda. From a very young age Barbara would love to help around the house and farm and looked after her younger two sisters.

Barbara’s education started at Miss Goodwin’s School, Tickhill which was just a hut in the garden. Then on to Hunmanby Hall school near Filey where she completed her education. Hunmanby Hall School was a big part of Barbara’s younger life with her two sisters and later her two daughters and nieces attending to same school. She made many friends through school especially Mary and Pat, and kept in touch through countless school reunions.

After leaving school she continued to help her mother and father at home and on the farm. She joined the Doncaster Young Farmer’s Club and was club secretary for many years. Through the Young Farmer’s organisation she met Allan, a member of South Axholme Young Farmers where their love for each other blossomed.

Barbara married Allan on the 25th of April 1957 at Wadworth, followed by a reception at Wilsic Hall, and they made their first home at Bridge Farm, Graizelound.

Their first daughter, Joy, was born a year later followed by Mark then Angela.

The whole family were very close and enjoyed life and celebrations with birthdays, Christmases and holidays spent with the Drury’s, the Lee’s and the Firth families and numerous other family friends.

In 1982 Barbara and Allan moved from Bridge Farm into the Pilkington family home of Lound House, Graizelound, leaving Joy and Mark at Bridge Farm.

In 2002, after Allan passed away, Barbara moved to Willow View, Haxey, where she engaged in village life. Sadly, Barbara suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and spent her last few years at Sandrock House, where she was loved and cared for dearly.

Barbara and Allan were blessed with six grandchildren: James, Sarah, Edward, Hannah, Emma and Kate and more recently five great-grandchildren: Rosie, Jessica, Daphne, Hattie and George.

Barbara very much enjoyed playing Bridge with friends in the afternoon. She also persuaded Allan to learn Bridge, and both were members of the Doncaster and Epworth Bridge Clubs, and also went on Bridge holidays.

Barbara was also a Magistrate at Epworth and Goole Magistrate Courts; and pleasingly none of her family ever came up before her.

Barbara and Allan loved their holidays, enjoying many a holiday at Es Moli, Majorca with Fred and Barbara. They also enjoyed farming holidays with a group of farming friends to New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Mexico and the Galapagos Islands to name but a few.

But more than anything she liked to spend time at Filey with her family and friends, building sandcastles and playing games on the beach.