Barbara Roe 1927-2021

Barbara died in Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth on 4 January 2021 after a short illness following a fall at her home. Barbara was born in Middlesex and worked for the London Borough of Ealing Library Service. In November 1971, she changed careers, joining the then rapidly expanding College of Librarianship Wales at Aberystwyth where she taught cataloguing and classification. Former colleagues speak highly of her dedication and care for her students and for her ‘practical and down-to-earth’ approach to a difficult subject which was an essential component of the education of any librarian. Barbara took early retirement during the mid-1980s. Her valedictory address to her colleagues was described as ‘legendary’ - full of wicked yet affectionate humour.In retirement, Barbara completed a research degree: The libraries of archaeological institutions during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which was later used in the official history of the Society of Antiquaries. She extended her life-long love of dogs to the showing and breeding of them. She was a long-term member of the Aberystwyth Quaker Meeting and the Aberystwyth Bibliographical Group – attending many of their meetings and visits. In later years she was also involved with the University of the Third Age and Waunfawr WI.