I have a collection of various diaries, photos, papers and artefacts relating to my grandfather Arthur Charles Barber, who rose from a hard upbringing to serve terms as mayor of Lewes in East Sussex, England. He and his wife Dorothy were mayor and mayoress in 1964-65, 1965-66 and 1968-69.
I have now passed on the key artefacts to The Keep archives in Brighton, so that they can be accessed by parties interested in Sussex local history. The specific item link is: https://www.thekeep.info/collections/getrecord/GB179_AMS7475.
Charlie Barber kept comprehensive diaires while mayor, detailing official functions and meetings, but also personal reflections on local, national and international events, together with family news. They are all available here for download in PDF format:
| Guide to family names in diaries | barber_people_guide.pdf | |
| 20 May 1964 | 15 Mar 1965 | 1964_05_20_to_1965_03_15.pdf |
| 28 Mar 1965 | 03 Oct 1965 | 1965_03_28_to_1965_10_03.pdf |
| 03 Oct 1965 | 14 Mar 1966 | 1965_10_03_to_1966_03_14.pdf |
| 02 Jun 1966 | 02 Oct 1966 | 1966_06_02_to_1966_10_02.pdf |
| 04 Oct 1966 | 21 Aug 1968 | 1966_10_04_to_1968_08_21.pdf |
| 22 Aug 1968 | 26 Nov 1969 | 1968_08_22_to_1969_11_26.pdf |
| 27 Nov 1969 | 16 Nov 1970 | 1969_11_27_to_1970_11_16.pdf |
| 20 Nov 1970 | 12 May 1972 | 1970_11_20_to_1972_05_12.pdf |
| 13 May 1972 | 04 Sep 1972 | 1972_05_13_to_1972_09_04.pdf |
| 05 Sep 1972 | 27 Jan 1973 | 1972_09_05_to_1973_01_27.pdf |
| 28 Jan 1973 | 16 May 1973 | 1973_01_28_to_1973_05_16.pdf |
Additionally the following folders of loose items are in the collection:
| Speeches by Charlie as mayor | charlie_speeches.pdf |
| Speeches by Dorothy as mayoress | dorothy_speeches.pdf |
| Essays by both Dorothy and Charlie | some_essays.pdf |
| Memorial pamphlets, eulogy, biographical pieces | memorial_biographical.pdf |
| Other bits and pieces | bits_pieces.pdf |
I have digitised some interviews with Charlie and his wife Dorothy which were on audio cassette, knowing that it will not be long before it is impossible to find a machine to play them on. Click to play each track directly, or do right click... save if you want to download a local copy.
Graham Mayhew interview with Charlie and Dorothy:
part 1 MP3
part 2 MP3
Ted Nalchett reminiscences of Charlie and other Lewes characters:
MP3
John Jacobs interviews with Charlie:
part 1 MP3
part 2 MP3
part 3 MP3
part 4 MP3
part 5 MP3
part 6 MP3
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Charlie and Dorothy with daughters and husbands |
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Charlie Barber on the mayoral throne |
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Set of diaries from start of mayoral career and beyond, ~10 years |
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First page of diaries, first day as mayor 20-May-1964 |
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Suitcases of memorabilia |
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War medals and small artefacts |
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Pre-mayoral published one-page biography |
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Freeman of Lewes award certificate |
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Freeman of Lewes cup |
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Testimonial of thanks for mayoral service |
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Past mayor medal |
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Past mayoress medal |
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Various Charlie pictures inc marching with Home Guard |
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Line-up with some dignitaries |
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Baxters long service caricature award |
To avoid spam, here is my email addresses -- but you'll need
to type it in properly:
charlie .at. wartnaby (dot) org