Victor Farrar

Victor John Frederick Farrar RIBA PPFAS FRSA (1930 – 23 August 2007), also known as V.J.F. Farrar, was an architect known for his restoration work at a time when respect for architectural heritage was at a low ebb. His obituary in The Guardian stated that ‘he put a training in classical design techniques to good use in his speciality of building restoration’. He was elected to the Great Barford parish council in 1959 which he served for 21 years and was, towards the end of his tenure, its Chairman. He subsequently wrote a report for the Bedford Society regarding the plight of four Bedford churches that had become redundant: St Mary’s, St Cuthbert’s, Holy Trinity and St Leonard. The church of St Leonard was the only one of the four to be demolished. St Paul's has been described as being of cathedral proportions.

Farrar was elected to the Great Barford parish council in 1959 which he served for 21 years and was, towards the end of his tenure, its Chairman.

Farrar died on 23 August 2007 at Wilden, Bedfordshire, England. His obituary in The Guardian stated that ‘he put a training in classical design techniques to good use in his speciality of building restoration’. Farrar’s obituary in his old school magazine reflected that at the time ‘it was rare to find a professional willing to take a public stand against the post war establishment, which in Bedford, as in many towns, saw little merit in the preservation of what we now call heritage’.

Farrar was survived by his wife, Denise, and his children, Roxana and Nicholas.

Publication Bedford 50 years ago. The architecture of a County Town, by Victor J F Farrar. Published 2007

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