On August 28th 2013, Elisabeth, aged 81 years, passed away peacefully at home in West Wittering surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous nine month battle against cancer of the mouth.  

Elisabeth Keene will be better known to Old Seniors as Miss Barker, who taught Games at Downe from 1953 to 1956. She coached lacrosse, tennis and gym and was a member of the rifle shooting team as well.  

Elisabeth’s children published an obituary, which is reproduced here with their kind permission.

Elisabeth was born in Bretton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to Frank and Dorothy Barker. She spent an idyllic childhood on the family farm before studying for her teaching degree at Liverpool University. 

Her love of teaching brought her to West Berkshire, where she became Games Mistress at Downe House school for girls, in Cold Ash, and later at Shaw House, Newbury.  

Sport was one of Elisabeth’s passions, whether participating, watching or listening on her radio, with cricket being arguably her favourite of all, and it was through sport that she met her future husband Michael, while they were both representing Berkshire at .22 rifle shooting. 

They married in 1956 and went on to have four children – and Robert, Alison, Richard and Roger. While the children were young, she continued to teach at many local primary schools before ending her career at St Mary’s, Thatcham. Elisabeth was always thrilled to bump into her former pupils and find out how their lives were progressing.

Elisabeth and Michael enjoyed a long and happy retirement and never stood still. They travelled far-and-wide in their canal boat Dragonfly, with their beloved dogs alongside, enjoying the countryside and long walks, always managing to find time for a glass of beer at a country pub on the way. 

Many memorable family holidays were spent at their caravan at Bracklesham Bay, and it was during these holidays that Elisabeth fell in love with the Chichester area. 

Ten years ago Michael and Elisabeth were able to realise their dream and moved to West Wittering near Chichester. Typically Elisabeth threw herself into the local community and became a regular sight walking her dogs on the beach every day, whatever the weather. She joined several local clubs and made many new friends, always giving her time freely and enthusiastically. Even health problems in recent years couldn’t hold her back and she continued to participate in village life as much as she could.  

Elisabeth was immensely proud of her children’s achievements and those of her eight grandchildren, always keeping herself up-to-date with what was happening in their lives.  

Elisabeth was an extraordinary character; gregarious, unique, resilient, practical, brave, fiercely proud and supportive in equal measures. Her passing has left a huge, unfillable hole in our lives and in the lives of every person that knew her.