My father John Wesley Barker was born on the 11th May 1927 and died on the 25th July 2007, his Mother's birthday and the Feast of St James The Apostle. He was Music Director of Christchurch Cathedral in Nelson, New Zealand.
Today I listened to a cassette recording of the Funeral and read the letter he wrote to me a few hours before he died. He developed an Acute Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm on 5th November 2004. He defied all the odds, and survived until its rupture, over 2.5 years later..
Donations to be sent to Health Research Council of NZ, "Barker Fund" for Vascular Research, PO Box 5541, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand.


My Tribute read at the funeral in Christchurch Cathedral, Nelson, by my brother-in-law Kemp English
As I write this from the Isle Of Arran on the west coast of Scotland, the other side of the world from Nelson in New Zealand, the size of this world cannot diminish the immense sorrow I feel on the loss of my Dad, nor diminish the love and respect in which I hold him now and will do so forever. He was funny, quirky, quite a character; definitely 'his own man'. But, most of all, a musician, dedicating his life to worship, through music of the highest standard and deepest devotion. We spent a wonderful time with Dad, Angela, Helen, Kemp and friends last Christmas and it will remain forever, a precious time we will never forget. We intend to return this Christmas to be a family once more. We will miss him. We will remember him. Wherever we are in this world, we will, today, celebrate his life. A wonderful person: my Dad.
'Toast Is Toast!' Johnny