8 April 1943 – 27 November 2025
Edward Spencer Barthorpe
These notes are based on conversations that I had with Spencer in September 2023
Early Years
Photo of spencer and friends who arrived in Newton Dee in the 1960s
Spencer came to live in Newton Dee in November 1963 at the age of 20 years. This was three years after Newton Dee transformed from being a part of the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools for the older pupils to a member community of the Camphill Village Trust with adults. Botton Village was the first adult Camphill Village Trust Community founded in 1955 and Newton Dee the second in 1960.
Spencer arrived at his initial interview with “a pocket full of watches”. As time went on the reasons for this became clear…
Spencer was brought up in Grantham, Lincolnshire and went to a local school before going to St. Christophers School in Bristol. Initially, Spencer intended to join the Grange Community in Gloucestershire but, fortunately for Newton Dee, he was destined to join the pioneer group at Newton Dee.
In the early years Spencer lived in Dolphin House with Jean and Jim Lyons, Spencer often remembers how they helped him to “manage his temper” in those early years! After a short time, Spencer managed to do this for himself, often with long conversations with those he trusted!
One of my early, heartwarming and impressive images of Newton Dee was to see Spencer, selflessly pushing one of his friends around Newton Dee in a wheelchair, whatever the weather. This helped me to recognise what Newton Dee stood for, that one didn’t need to be a “member of staff” to help others.
The 1970s and 1980s
By the time I came to Newton Dee in 1978, Spencer was one of the pillars of the community who would quickly put me right when needed, though it was some years later before I was covering in the Toyshop, and it was time for Spencer to teach me some of the basics of woodwork. I had gained no understanding or expertise during my 3 years of woodwork lessons at school.
By the time I arrived, Spencer was a very experienced joiner and cabinet maker, well trained by the master joiner, Alan Cais. At that time Tom Taverne had recently joined the Joinery team as Alan Cais’ apprentice, later to become a master cabinet maker himself, together with Spencer, developing the products and quality of work together, and into the future.
In the 1980s the Weavery workshop, in the hands of Elspeth Groth and her team of weavers, was still based in what is the Camphill Architects Office today. At that time it was an old wooden construction that was no longer fit for purpose. The Architects at that time were based in a small upstairs room in the Bakery, trying to mix detailed architectural work with fresh sacks of grain for the bread, a mill for turning it to flour and numerous sacks of flour. Obviously, time to move! Spencer also worked in the Bakery at that time. So, Tom, Spencer, and the rest of the joinery team, started to dismantle the old Weavery, in preparation for a full renovation of the building, fit for the Camphill Architects. Spencer enjoyed the work but sadly, the building was in worse condition than was originally thought and a building company needed to be brought in to complete the work.
Independence
In the late 1980s and 90s,” independence” became a buzz word in Newton Dee. Spencer was keen to be part of this, though we felt that we achieved a high level of independence for all that lived here. He had been living in Iota, the flat below Capella, with three others. Spencer then decided to cook at the weekends and later took an afternoon off each week to keep their flat clean. He was always happy to do this, but also happy that Val Werthmann continued to supply cooked meals during the week!
Leisure Time
Spencer has always enjoyed a wide variety of interests. Earlier, I mentioned the collection of watches that Spencer carried in his pockets when he came for his initial interview. Spencer had the ability and skill to take apart watches and clocks and then to reassemble them, often with the intention of incorporating them into clock faces of his own design, much appreciated by those to whom he gave them as gifts. I was amazed to see the number and variety of clocks of his own design that adorned the walls and shelves of his rooms in Iota and in Mira.
Spencer arrived in Newton Dee with a natural ability for fine, detailed work. This soon appeared in his craftsmanship in the Joinery, but also in his wood carving and when working on the lathe in the Toyshop. Spencer lived with Val and Vitus Werthmann in Capella for some years. During those years, Vitus had his own shed for cutting and polishing minerals, agates, etc. and Spencer had a shed beside the house for his own craft work that was not suitable for inside the house. There, Spencer spent innumerable evenings and weekends, creating or repairing according to the project, emerging with many different works of art over the years.
Spencer loved walking and trains and has managed to enjoy himself by combining the two, not thinking twice about walking to Stonehaven and taking the train back!
In the 1960s, Mr Beecham closed many of the unprofitable railway lines across the country. The steam trains used to run through Newton Dee, from Aberdeen to Ballater in Spencer’s early days here. On the closure of the lines, Spencer saw the opportunity to salvage any bits of railways memorabilia that he came across. The result of which was that Spencer cut down to size, painted and erected them in his bedroom, alongside his clock collection. A very impressive sight!
Enjoyable Destruction!
In my first year in Newton Dee I lived in an old green caravan, on the site of what is now Columba House. Soon after I arrived Spencer happily told me that prior to my arrival there had been talk of scrapping the caravan as it was so old (a gift from the Findhorn Community back in the early 1970s when it fell below their acceptable standards!!) After a year I moved into a real house (The Croft), and shortly afterwards Spencer, together with the Joinery team, took great pleasure in reducing my wonderful, green caravan to scrap. Spencer often reminds me of this fact with great glee!
Life in the 2020s
Spencer’s working life slowed down in recent years but at 80 that was quite reasonable! He continued to be very aware of what was happening in the community and very willing to share his strong opinions with all of us!
In May of this year Spencer grew more frail and was in need of 24 hour support and moved to the Torry Care Home in Aberdeen. Some of his friends were able to visit him and on occasion he was able to join social events in Newton Dee. Friends from Newton Dee visited him last week to plan his next social visit to Newton Dee. Sadly he died early in the morning on the following day.
Thank you, Spencer, for bringing your special abilities and sharing them with us all over the last 60 years! Your skills, willingness to be involved and concern for others, have been essential elements in the founding of our community.
Alan Brown, Long-term co-worker
We will miss him very much