Farewell to Barry Taylor — A True Bazley Legend
This month, we said goodbye to Barry Taylor — a man who, in so many ways, embodied the spirit of Bazley. Barry was 91½ when he passed, and for close to 40 years he called our village home. Until only a few years ago, he was Bazley’s main property agent, and countless families found their way here through him.
In his later years, he set about ticking off items on his bucket list, including two memorable trips: one to Umngazi River Bungalows and the other to the Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Drakensberg. He achieved both, and in classic Barry style, did so with a smile.
He was an exceptionally kind man with a wonderful sense of humour. Many will remember him driving around the village in his sporty little car well into his nineties, dressed in his beloved Hawaiian shirts – a far cry from the formal attire he wore before “officially retiring” at the age of 88.
And of course, who could forget his Saturday ritual? A weekly trip to Pennington for his favourite treat: a wors roll. He hated vegetables but loved burgers and sausages – a detail that feels so perfectly Barry.
He also frequently reminded us to show appreciation to those who provide services throughout the year – a message worth holding onto, especially during the festive season.
As we remember him, it’s comforting to think that he is now reunited with his beloved Perry, smiling down on the Bazley he loved so dearly.
Goodbye Barry – Bazley’s legend. You will be missed.
Barry at 90 — his shirt captures his wonderful sense of humour and the youthful spirit he carried throughout his life.
A visit to Hluhluwe Game Reserve with family — a visit he thoroughly enjoyed in the last year of his life, and another special item proudly ticked off his bucket list.
How blessed Barry was to enjoy the kind of friendship where quiet moments meant everything — just him and Nic, sharing time and the beautiful Bazley view.
