A Tribute To Debbie - Much Loved Arbury Archivist

The death of Debbie Brett on Sunday has saddened us all deeply.

Debbie was very much an 'outdoors person', she loved the countryside. She painted and drew in her spare time, and liked nothing better than being on a train going somewhere!

She was always deeply moved by the beauties of nature and, sitting in her hospital bed at home a few days before she died, watching the sky deepen from light to dark blue as the evening set in and the lights appeared in the windows opposite, exclaimed: 'Isn't it beautiful?!'

'I wouldn't have noticed,' said her husband Andy. 'But when I looked, it was. She took great pleasure out of looking out of the window, noting all the flora and fauna. I'm so glad the NHS supplied a hospital bed and she was able to stay at home until the end.'

Debbie was a very loyal and active member of the Arbury Archivists - as she said, she 'married an Arbury man' - hubby Andy has family links here back to the old farm days in the 1880s. 

Debbie was fascinated by the various stages of Arbury history and the people who shaped our history, from the Iron Age village or, more probably fort, to the Romans who built next to it, to the medieval era and the farms, to 'The Arbury', North and South, then and now.

'Arbury fascinates me because the name links back to something prehistoric,' she said. 'The fact that there was an iron age site, and then the Romans built on the land immediately adjacent to the site, makes for an astonishing history. People coming and going, existing here, different eras stretching back beyond recorded history, made me wonder why the "Arbury" name had ceased to be celebrated, and I really feel that splitting it up artificially is a mistake. 

'There is a lot more to life than the council deciding to name things after whatever they fancy, and throwing out the "Arbury" name seems ridiculous.'

Every inch a 'people person', Debbie had worked since the 1990s as a care worker, in several different settings, including mental health and the elderly. She retired two years ago, but by that time had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

The diagnosis came after delays in receiving medical attention during the covid lockdowns and backlog. Finally, her femur fractured while she was out walking.

Debbie took her diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer with courage and humour. She continued to research Arbury history and helped Andy collate all the material from the original Arbury Archive.

She remained a kind and concerned friend, whose gentle nature and willingness to listen to others - really listen - and offer help whenever possible, continued to make her a cherished person.

Debbie and Andy met and moved in together in May 1993, and married in December 1995.

'We met as colleagues and talked and talked immediately,' says Andy. 'It was a quiet, sunny day at work and we talked the day away - politics, past experiences, music, I felt I'd known her for years by the end of my working day. She invited me out for a drink that night, and we talked and talked more. I have never had such fascinating conversations, and love blossomed quickly.'

Andy is devastated by Debbie's passing and is now taking a break from Arbury Cambridge. He promises to return. For the time being, in the absence of our beloved 'Arbury Guru', Badger will be overseeing the site.

All that remains for us to say is: 'We're here for you, Andy!'

And:

Rest in Peace, Debbie. 

We love and miss you.