Tribute paid to city’s ‘ woman of courage’

Mother overcame polio to leave mark on city life

Tribute has been paid following the death of a Peterborough “woman of courage”, honoured at the highest level for her community spirit.

Betsy Barsby, known as Betty, of Netherton, died at Peterborough City Hospital last month, aged 90, following a short illness.

A special service was held at St John the Baptist Church, in Church Street, in honour of the woman who was made a Member of the British Empire in 1988 for services to the community of Peterborough.

In the report at the time, the Evening Telegraph described her as a “woman of courage”.

Mrs Barsby overcame po- lio in the 1950s as a mother to three young children to leave her mark on numerous areas of life in Peterborough.

She was a founder member of the local branch of the British Red Cross and would go on to be presented with an award for 50 years’ service to the goodwill organisation.

An active Christian, she played a key role in the fundraising during the late 1950s which ensured Dogsthorpe, her home at the time, had a church and which was named Christ the Carpenter Church.

For decades, fromthe time when she recovered from polio up until her death, she was the local welfare officer for the British Polio Fellowship, and for a period of three years was the charity’s national vice-chairman.

Her community involvement extended to education, with her becoming a governor at Jack Hunt School, in Ledbury Road.

Today, the award presented to the pupil who achieves the best GCSE results still carries her name, the Barsby Trophy.

Chairman of the governors Richard Marks, who spent a number of years with Mrs Barsby on the board, described her as a “strong supporter” of the school.

Hesaid: “I always liked Mrs Barsby and she always asked after the school when I met her later.

“I, and other members of the school staff who knew her, are sad to hear of her death and would like to pass on our condolences to her family.

Mrs Barsby would go on to have five children with her late husband Douglas.

Daughter Elizabeth Deans ( 61), from Longthorpe, described her as a “pillar of the community”.

She said: “She was a wonderful person.

“She saw good in everybody.

She added: “As a child, I remember there was a constant stream of people coming for help and she never ever turned anyone away.”

Betty Barsby on her 90th birthday last year.