Bern Balfe tribute.

It is with great sadness we have to announce the unexpected death of fellow ESTC member Bern Balfe on the 17th August 2017.
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This will come as a shock to all who knew Bern and in particular to those who were with her on Pam's birthday weekend in July when Bern climbed Sgiath Cuill in Glen Dochart with others and indeed by all accounts she was first to the top.Bern had in fact been ill for some time but she preferred not to tell people of her illness, wanting instead to lead life as usual.

Bern loved hillwalking, cycling and mountaineering but enjoyed nothing better than a ski tour on a fine winter's day in the Scottish hills or with her ESTC chums on a hut to hut tour of Norway.  She was a highly skilled architect, passionate about buildings, the arts, collie dogs and the environment. 
In mid-August she had an unexpected and ultimately fatal relapse and a few days later she died peacefully at home in Nigel's arms. She has been laid to rest in Binning Memorial Wood in East Lothian.

We will miss her very much.


“I will very much miss her cheerful independent disposition…she had lots of interesting ideas and was always helpful when I asked her for any ‘home improvement’ advice. Not to mention her dress sense, must have been the artist in her, which I admired.”
Yvonne Clegg


“We have been robbed of a lovely, intelligent, delightful woman.”
Clare Swindells


“The world will be a less bright place without Bern in it.”
Cathie and Martin


“We will cherish forever the opportunity to spend time with Bern, to laugh and discuss life with great gusto. We’ll miss her but she’ll always be with us too.” Chris and Chantal
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“I’m sitting here looking at my wonderful French doors and windows that she installed and I feel numb and grief stricken that I will not see her ever again.” Clare Campbell

"Bern was such a positive and encouraging person who loved being outdoors and I will always have great memories of the walking we did together.  I won't forget when back in 2011/12 when I lost my job etc. how encouraging both Bern and Nigel were that I should "stick to my dream" and head out to do voluntary tutoring in India. I still have the map of Delhi she gave me, that experience after a lot of ups and downs led to what I do today.  I still use some of the "India" slides in my lectures to medical students in Malaysia today."
​Pam Knight