My Obituary Tribute to Bart
1st February 2025, should be looking forward to Valentine’s Day , instead it is with immense grief , sadness and heartache that I put “mouse to keyboard” (not quite pen to paper) and write of my Darling Bart’s passing on the 18th June 2023 . A tiny glimpse into his full and busy varied life. He devastatingly died the exact night we came back from a Last Wish Trip to England. Bart had put up an incredibly determined brave fight against a totally unexpected terminal cancer diagnosis, just a short 5 months earlier in January.
Bart had an extremely long , detailed and very full “Bucket List Of Things To Do Before I Die”
which typical for Bart, he kept adding to, during his intense, far too short 5 month battle.
Bart was a BIG Believer to DREAM BIG and AIM HIGH . “If you don’t Dream & TRY – it will never happen” .
Our youngest son was only eleven years old when Bart died. We had expected, hoped, planned and dreamed for at least another twenty years together ~ and to see our ‘baby’ grow up into a self-sufficient young man, like his older brothers. Tragically that was not to be. Bart’s rare form of cancer was far too advanced for any treatment to be possible as the metastases had already spread. No raditherapy, No immunitherapy, No chemotherapy, just palliative care until the end.
Bart wanted every minute left to be precious and memorable ~ he did not want to be away from his beloved dogs and cats , his wife and young son and to have the end of his life in a hospice. Bart also was adament not to have any “strangers” for any Home Help, so we made the decision that I would be his carer, and my older son would fly back from Australia to be with us too, to help carry him around and assist in his last months, as his condition worsened.
EVERY Week we planned what would be our ‘next mission’ to try to accomplish, not knowing just how long we would get. Weeks ? Months? a YEAR? More?
We crammed full the next five months with family, friends , activities and trips, plus of course our beloved Goldens & Coons …. and fixated ourselves with a LOT of “Paul’s Go For It” spirit as ammunition to keep us going from day to day and week to week.
Thankful that Bart proudly got to see our super Kiki made up into our next Dutch Champion, to get to use frozen ‘Barnum’ semen and to see his very last two Hellacious Acres Litters being born and raised.
ALL extremely special accomplishments close to his heart.
From the start of 2023 , we had achieved being in front of the leaderboard for the top winning kennel at shows in the Netherlands …. “Babe, You HAVE to stay There at the TOP” – those words carried me through on automatic pilot to continue showing during his illness and beyond to fulfill that wish and become the WoW TOP KENNEL WINNER for 2023 !!
We went out locally to his favourite places around Noord Holland, to Den Helder, Den Oever, Enkhuizen, Edam, Volendam, Marken, to play mini golf and table golf in nearby Medemblik , to the steam trains & shopping in Hoorn, we had LOTS of beach walks to Petten, Hargen & Callantsoog with the dogs while Bart could still walk, and also longer drives to Drenthe to see more Hunebedden , Hindeloopen, to the planetarium Franekar with special friends, the Terps in Friesland, back to visit Bourtange and Naarden, to the beautiful grounds of Castle de Haar, and with dear friends to wander around Zaanse Schans . Bart really didn’t want to sit around at home and wait to die, but to feel the world’s beauty, the sun in the sky and the wind on his face.
By the May, Bart had difficulty walking, so was now in a wheelchair , he got to see me judge the Golden Retriever Club of the Netherlands Championship Specialty Show
and award my first Double Dutch CACs , a proud moment for him, watching his wifey judge for the club he loved and been part of since his beginnings with the Golden Retriever.
We travelled to all five Wadden Sea Islands ~ Terschelling & Schiermonnikoog ( two islands where Bart had often worked) , went twice to Texel, the first time to Vlieland, and lastly at the start of June to the fifth island of Ameland, where Bart enjoyed watching the Beach Rugby Sevens Tournament in glorious sunshine.
We went to see the amazing vibrant colourful Tulips at The Keukenhof , twice to Kevelaar in Germany to buy candles, to Cornwall for family time, to get to watch the ‘Elvis’ Movie at Hemels with more dear friends, to Centre Parcs, ( Bart of course on ALL of the water rides and rapids, despite the pain) , and had friends and family come over to make special emotional last visits.
Ending his last five days of life with a special memorable Last Wish trip to England to sail on Lake Windemere and visit the Beatrix Potter Museum . We had the overnight boat from Ijmuiden to Newcastle and back. Bart pushed himself with a determined drive and adrenalin not to give in to the ever encroaching pain and debilitation of his worsening condition. Forever will be thankful for having permission to take our youngest son off school and be able to spend those incredibly special intensive last five days together making precious memories to treasure. Forever thankful to the “Stichting Ambulance Wens ~ Last Wish Charity” for working miracles to help out the day before our scheduled departure to provide much needed assistance with an Ambulance, Ambulance Driver & Nurse to come with us to England on our trip, and still make it possible – as Bart took a dramatic decline with the pain, bone, lung and liver cancer escalating to rage through his body, he could no longer stand up or feel his feet and needed another level of care. Bart happily still in good spirits and keen to go to Windemere and see Peter Rabbit !! Not many people get to be dancing & swaying along to the music on the ship’s discotheque the night before they died!
Bart loved PIZZA !! Absolutely his favourite food. Chicken/Carrot/Chickpea Curry & Rice came a close second, along with Vanilla ice cream & Vanilla Milkshakes !!
~Many a drive we had to stop by MacDonalds for him to get a satisfying Vanilla Milkshake fix !!
Bart LOVED music !! He LOVED Jimmi Hendrix & Thin Lizzy. He played the Electric Guitar and had some great gigs and fun playing in a band in his younger days.
Bart and I went together to see many many live bands & concerts at the O2 , Paradiso, Ahoy Rotterdam, Rai Amsterdam, the ZiggoDome, Heinekin Music Hall, AFAS Live, Ajax Arena, Melkweg, Paradiso, and to the Beatrix Theatre.
Bart was born in Amsterdam , came to live in picturesque Twisk as a child, and remained living in quaint Twisk for the next 55 years !!
Bart LOVED all kinds of sports , he liked to watch and follow the Olympics, Snooker, Racing, Rugby, and other sports on TV. He was thrilled and felt very lucky to get to see the “ALL BLACKS” playing live when we went to New Zealand. Bart was a keen and talented football player – as a youngster in Amsterdam and then in his teens & twenties in Twisk, and later he continued his love for the sport as a Football Coach.
Bart LOVED RACING !!
He loved the excitement, tactics, skill and buzz of Horses, Cars, Karts or Motorbikes on track at full speed !!!! He enjoyed karting, had his very own Go-Kart, and became Go-Kart obsessed during his time racing on circuits himself, along with his oldest son.
For his working career Bart had qualified as a School Teacher, but after doing the compulsory Mandatory Military Service in a Dutch Army troop for two years, Bart ended up working for his father and taking over his dad’s company ‘HansvanMarenBV’ (also based in little Twisk) and was enthusiastic to develop ‘OeroeBoeroe’ with his work partner.
Bart was very artistic and intelligent, he had a talent as a painter , creator and in making hand-drawn designs.
Bart got to know and chat regularly to my most wonderful longtime BFF Paul about their mutual interests of cars, engines, vehicles, wheels, racing, motorsport, karting, designing, creating, carpentry, graphics and of course ….. pens!
Bart had started as a teenager with breeding Racing Pigeons, and continued his breeding passions with Scottish Black Face Sheep, aswell as his beloved Golden Retrievers. Bart was married to his first wife Mirjam for over 30 years, and together they had two sons.
He also for a while had and bred Trotters and enjoyed Harness Racing, buying his horses from France, Sweden and America.
Bart’s deep love and devotion to the Golden Retriever breed was a passionate affair. As a judge he excelled. As a dog owner, he craved the cuddles ,unconditional love, company, free runs over the dunes & therapeutic beach walks, swims in the sea, and having them asleep by your feet, aswell as the adrenalin buzz from all of the adventurous & successful show campaigns around Europe and the UK. Showing ( and Winning!!!) an addictive hobby for Bart .
The breeding dedication and ethics to preserve the breed standard with high regard to type, quality, health, conformation and most importantly the character & temperament of our beloved breed was ALWAYS of paramount importance to us both ~ The same later applied to our Maine Coons when they started to join our four legged family in 2015 , after the loss of our two beautiful very sweet Birman Cats “Cupid’ & ‘Cluedo’ at over 15 years of age, which Bart had become rather attached to.
I had had cats at home from a young child, but Bart had never had any cats before until I arrived into his life from England with my teenage sons, six Goldens & four pusscats!! “Chevy & Cedric” our two BritishDomesticShortHaired OddEyed Whites very much approved of their new Holland Home and both lived on to also become oldies of 15 & 18 years !
Bart and I got together in 2008 , and were married in August 2010 in Scotland at Guisachan in Tomich, the birthplace and start of our beloved Golden Retriever breed.
So a fitting place we thought to start and begin our married life together xXx
Just like me , Bart was an obsessive HUGE Collector !!!
For him it was always best when it was all above and beyond with EVERYTHING in EXCESS !!
Books, F1 model Cars, Thomas The Tank Engine Trains, Pokemon Cards, Hindeloopen, Ornaments, Pictures, Paintings, Photos , Roses , Rose Bushes, Asterix & Obelix, Teddy Bears, Rosettes & Trophies !! If there was one ‘fault’ to mention about Bart, it was being a bit too excessive, extremely adventurous and far too Over The Top and not knowing when best to Stop! A trait that shone through in the end, to help him in his ambitious drive to keep going to fulfil more dreams and achieve more goals – despite his body failing, the pain getting worse and the Fentanyl increasing.
Bart was a keen fan of Formula One , the Grand Prix, Motor Sport, Football, Scottish Distilleries & Whiskey Collections. He never smoked, drunk alcohol or coffee. Just Tea & Tea & more cups of Tea!
I can honestly (and biasedly) say that I have been blessed with and was lucky to find such a deep true love and THE BEST HUSBAND in the World !!
We had a blissful connection to ensure a married life of love, passion, friendship, trust, adoration, and pure devotion. With the added enrichment and joys of our travels and trips away to a multitude of different countries, our chats and conversations, our mutual hobbies, our deep shared love of dogs, cats, breeding, showing, our walks together over the dunes & the beach, judging around the world, and above all ~ our fabulous six precious sons and six treasured gorgeous grandchildren we had between us. Wonderful and comforting for Bart, to know that he will live on through his three sons and two granddaughters.
We lived and enjoyed life together in our own little Paradise of our Holland Home.
The tragic and immense loss of my Bart, far far too soon, has hit me hard, we were supposed to grow old and crinkly together ….. My Big Love, My Dopamine, My Best Friend , My Confident & My Partner in so much …… A man so full of so many passions …. . Forever proud & blessed to have been your Wifey xXx
After the loss of my first husband Mick in his forties to cancer; while our sons were still teenagers at school ~ and ecstatic with the luck to find love again in my wonderful Bart ~ I was totally unprepared for cancer to strike and cause its destruction again.
In August 2024 my broken world fell even further apart, when Paul at only 59 years old, devastatingly suddenly died too, My treasured soulmate and ultra special BFF , who I had shared an unique bond, trust and ongoing friendship that lasted over 40 years, since we first met in 1984, when I was still a teenager at school.
1984 also ultra rememberable for being the year I got my very first long awaited Golden Retriever ‘Jema’.
I am sure if Paul had not said “GO for it! Go for Gold, Go for Love” and given me the push and the encouragement to take the giant plunge to leave everything:~ my work, my home, my family, my friends ~ and move from my England life to be with Bart in a foreign country, then the precious and most amazing fifteen blissful years that Bart and I did get to share together , absolutely would not have happened.
So, My deepest sympathy and prayers to all who mourn and grieve and suffer the enormous loss of the ones you love so deeply ~ mother father, child, sibling, family member, good friend, miscarriage, human, cat, dog, horse …. to each, the personal loss of the precious little things that make each life special is huge.
Now over 18 months on, it’s time to treasure and continue the impact of the varied aspects of Bart’s Life & Legacy and continue onwards with all he has left behind in his death …. Rest in Peace My Darling xXx
After his death ~ arriving on the day of his farewell, where the bagpipes played and Goldens sat with their owners to line either side of the street as a tribute to Bart as he went past in his coffin ~ came the honourable acclaimed “GOUDEN ERESPELD” / “GOLDEN HONORARY PIN” Certificate.
Awarded by the RVB to value & commemorate the many Champions bred, the national & international successes , and Bart’s devotion and dedication to our beloved breed as well as to the world of dogs as a kind and caring dog lover, owner, breeder, exhibitor and judge …. if only he could have seen it for himself ….. How chuffed & proud would he have been xXx
The Beginnings of The Hellacious Acres Golden Retrievers
Bart had already gained much experience with breeding and showing as a teenager – starting with pigeons, ducks, chickens and various other animals.
When thinking of which particular kind of dog he wanted to have, Bart had always thought about owning an Irish Setter – liking them in character as well as their rich red colour very much and also because as a breed they had the image of being very naughty.
Now married, Bart thought of a dog to add to the family…… a friend had bred a litter of really dark gold Golden Retrievers , so Bart went to take a look ….. and if you’re going to look at a litter then you are very tempted to take one because they are so cute …… and so Bart got his first Golden Retriever in 1979.
“Avra” as her name was, was bought primarily as a family pet, however from his previous hobbies there was the temptation to show and hopefully from breed her too – she turned out to be a very lovely bitch …..with unfortunately one setback; she was undershot and was therefore only shown once.
A second golden Retriever “Lizzy” arrived – sadly also another disappointment as she was diagnosed with bad hips.
Bart was now very keen on the breed and decided to try his luck elsewhere. He felt he had to learn more about the breed first if he was going to be successful and aim to get a good one. He did some research & investigating & looked into known respected breeders to find out where best to buy his next “good” bitch from.
In that time Thea Berts (v.d.Drunenborgh) was a leading Kennel in the Netherlands and because Bart’s motto is “the best comes from the best” he decided to go there and that resulted in Danish Guinevere v.d. Drunenborgh coming to Twisk.
In 1981 Bart had his first litter and that was the beginning “of the Hellacious Acres” Kennel in Holland.
His second idea was having one from England, so he approached the ‘Camrose’ kennel of Joan Tudor and the ‘Westley’ kennel from Joan Gill and Daphne & Mervyn Philpott.
Sometimes you need a little luck in life, sadly things didn’t work out at that time in getting a puppy with the Camrose kennel …. but joy was to be had with getting a pup from the Westley kennel.
In November 1982 Westley Beedee was born and came to Holland as Bart’s FIRST imported Golden Retriever.
Both bitches turned out to be great specimens of the breed and started the show scene for Bart.
Guinevere developed into a most wonderful bitch and also became a good brood bitch – producing Barts first champion in Ch.Chessina of the Hellacious Acres W’88.
Beedee wanted not to do it for less and became a Dutch, VDH & German Champion ( ending up winning a total of 12 CACs; 3 RCACs; 5 CACIBs & 2 RCACIBs ) and produced the second homebred champion Ch.Bashfull of the Hellacious Acres.
From that point onward it went fast because a lot of the combinations turned out to be very good and produced several other champions also with other owners than himself. Showing became a passion and a time consuming hobby for Bart ; in between his work and family life.
Because of the wonderful relationship and special connection he developed with Joan Gill and Daphne and Mervyn Philpott, Bart also imported Ch.Noravon Amos and the very lovely Ch.Westley Cathrina who was a stunning bitch herself ; she excelled in the show ring but did even better as a brood bitch and you can still find her name back in the pedigree of many Dutch born Golden Retrievers – a truly outstanding bitch.
Her son – World Champion Mack Lobell of the Hellacious Acres was an “once in a lifetime dog” –
a super show dog who was extremely happy being with you in the ring, he always performed well
and in that aspect he was a natural showman.
A cornerstone of his breeding, the Westley kennel of beautiful, very lovely bred Golden Retrievers
has been and still is the root of Bart’s ideals in a Golden Retriever
Photos showing a Hellacious Acres group & a Westley group
Alongside his deep love of the Golden Retriever was that niggling first love of the Setters …. So eventually an English Setter was added too….
Also imported from England ‘Tattersett To Be Fair’.
Bart for a while was the Chairman of both the English Setter Club of the Netherlands and also for the Golden Retriever Club of the Netherlands.
Bart spent many years studying dogs in general and trained to pass all the required exams needed to become an official FCI judge.
He has fulfilled multiple judging appointments for both the English Setter and Golden Retriever in the UK and in various countries around the world,
including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Russia, Australia & New Zealand and has also acquired the KC approval to award Challenge Certificates in the United Kingdom.