Barkley - Hamish

Assam 1952-62

Bill “Bubbles” and Carol Barkley.

Our parents first met, and were married in Bihar just before the war. My sister and myself were born there, but the family returned to the UK in ’47 and Partition. Our father returned, this time to Assam in ’52 ,and we were allocated a bungalow not far from  the river, old club house and church in Dibrugarh Town. I always presumed that all these were swallowed up by the Brahmaputra as we were then moved to  Bokel, a few hundred yards down from the Assam Tea Planters Club, which at that time sported tennis courts, a 9 hole golf course and a rugby pitch that was seldom used for that purpose. A church had been built on the same site, the Rev Hugh Horsley being the patient guardian of a mostly empty place of worship. Hugh christened our twin brothers, Simon and Jeremy, and we also met with the Horsleys  back in the UK, as late as the 70’s. Our parents had many friends who would come and see us when on leave back home, and whose number amused and surprised us in equal measure. Our mother felt that Croyde Bay was her spiritual home, and spent as much time there as possible, something that  her children, grandchildren (and great grandchild)have also discovered for themselves.

Our parents retired to N.Devon in the early 60’s but both sadly passed away in the 80’s. They leave a comprehensive photo history, starting in the 1930’s right through to their retirement back in the UK.

The Barkley family currently numbers six elders, four children, one grandchild and another on the way. We are now based in France and along the River Severn ,but memories, especially of Assam are often discussed,and we raised over £2000 on a cycle ride for the Nepal earthquake fund as Bill,our father, was with the 10th Royal Gurkhas in the war.

We all send our best wishes to any and everyone who knew Bill and Carol.

Kind regards

Hamish.

Carol Barkley in background,Bill Barkley (pipe) then anti-clockwise D K Dutta ,J R Wilson,Charles Compton, Photo taken at our bungalow in Bokel.