David BarnettA tribute by Tony Lea
David had lived in Lee Common for 17 years but it was only in the last four years that I had got to know him well.
David was great company and a real gentleman. He had been involved in the hospitality industry for many years and began work in the kitchens at Claridges.
He then went on to work for Forte, Scottish and Newcastle Breweries in Scotland and to manage the hotel division of Ladbrokes. He was a great friend of Marco Berni, of Berni Inns fame, who was best man at Anne and David’s wedding. It was Marco who encouraged David to open his first Penny Farthing Restaurant in Gerrards Cross and then Berkhamsted. David also owned The Plough at Winchmore Hill and it was he who sold it to Barbara Windsor.
Later in life he made a big career change and became an Independent Financial Advisor. In true David fashion he also made a great success of that move.
He was married to Anne for 29 years and lived together with her three sons. In fact they had just celebrated their wedding anniversary a few days before he died.
David had fallen ill a few years ago but fought courageously against increasingly difficult odds. Nevertheless he always looked forward to joining Peter Garner, Paul Apicella and myself for lunch and was disappointed if he could not make it. His love of ham, egg and chips was legendary!
Despite his illness David loved his holidays with Anne to places as diverse as Goa and Sandbanks. It was here in Bournemouth that he sadly passed away in July.
David was a great lover of food and wine and a big help on a couple of occasions with the Roving Supper. He is greatly missed by his family and friends and lunches will never be quite the same without him.