Son's warm tribute to popular dad in Banbury

David Barlow passed away, aged 83, at the Horton General Hospital and was best known as a dentist who looked after many patients from the town and beyond for more than 30 years.

Born in Lytham St Annes in 1932, Mr Barlow moved to Banbury with his parents in 1947 and attending the town’s grammar school where he met his wife-to-be, Wendy.

He studied at the University of Liverpool and qualified as a dentist in 1957, the same year he married the now Mrs Barlow and undertook his National Service in the Royal Army Dental Corps in the West Midlands.

Mr Barlow moved to Bodicote in 1959 and worked in practice in Banbury for 32 years until he retired in 1991. In Banbury he took on many roles including secretary, treasurer and chairman of the local British Dental Society branch.

He was also a very active member of the community, and organised the first sponsored walks in the area to raise funds for the Scouts.

He was also a keen member of the Banbury Twinning Association and enjoyed learning languages at evening classes to help communicate with friends from the twin towns of Ermont in France and Hennef in Germany.

As well as his wife Wendy, Mr Barlow leaves behind three sons, Paul, Stephen and Simon, and four grandchildren.

Mr Barlow’s son Stephen said: “Dad had a very generous spirit and felt a great sense of duty to the community. This was evident in the volunteering and fundraising work he did as well as his professional life.

“If there was a tin that needed shaking for a Round Table or Rotary charity, Dad was always there. He was a passionate advocate of the National Health Service.

“His home phone number was never ex-directory; people used to phone up day and night needing emergency treatment and Dad would always oblige. When he retired we filled a scrapbook of letters from patients thanking him for his kindness and service.

“He was a loving husband to Wendy for almost 60 years and very proud of his children and grandchildren, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for us.“

His funeral will be held on Monday, March 7 at 3pm at St John the Baptist Church in Bodicote.