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A Tribute to Barry by Graham Marr
Barry was my form teacher for about 4 years at
Horsenden School in the middle part of the 1970s.
He is the most respective person I’ve had as a
teacher. I recall Barry and his love for those many cars he
purchased, I even remember one of them being a “mini-Cooper
style car”. Barry had it looking all smart and fine only to have
it stolen. I recall many long and happy school trips to the Lake
District and the Isle-Of-Wight. Over the years we had many happy
class-room parties at Easter, Christmas, many happy summers and
sports days.
Education was fun and exciting for us all with
Barry. Even parents day was made into a positive event by our
Mr. Jones.
I recall Barry moving into his house in Hanwell, a bunch of
visited and spent many weekends helping teacher do his DIY. How
many teachers do you know that can get a bunch of people around
to do free DIY decorating for them. Ha. He made us all laugh
even during hard work.
I recall around 1974 Barry showing us in the
class room our first ever sight of something called a calculator
during math’s lesson. It was his own calculated and cost him a
fortune at that time.
Barry was that teacher that gave us our first sex
education lesson. What a task. Class of 35 kids. During the
years at School I recall Barry talking very proudly of his own
farther. Telling us stories of his child-hood years bringing him
up. He use to say “ do what you can, with what you have, where
you are”.
Barry came from a small family as many of you
will know. Barry always preferred to believe the best of
everyone. Its been the most beautiful thing to have know him. I
struggled during the early years at School and Barry told me we
cannot all be brilliant Graham, but anyone can be dependable.
Now at 44 years of age I still recall those words.
All the foundations of my education came from
Barry and his style of education has put me in the fast lane of
life with more than anyone could wish for. Understanding my
needs as an individual, Barry would say things like "politeness
goes far and the greatest pleasure of life is conversation"
(But not in the class room Graham). Ha. We even had the words
"silence is golden" above the black-board in the class room.
In later years Barry was kind enough to stay in
contact with my very own parents in London and as such a few
summers ago I was lucky to have one or two beers with Barry and
his son. I must say Barry's son has all the love for man-kind as
his Dad, encouragement is the oxygen to the soul. Barry
understood the trick of growing up without growing old. He could
talk to anyone about anything and anyone could talk to him.
Three years ago I contact Barry again. Imagine
that, I contacted my old form teacher from 30 years ago for some
advice. I wanted to discussed an opportunity in my life to move
down to Australia. We had many email exchanges and the odd phone
call. He told me that I would be more disappointed by the things
I didn’t do than the ones I did. So, I was to throw off the
bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour on my London home to
Sydney. How cool is that to have been able to talk to my
form-teacher from 30 years ago. He was there for me, yet again.
If any of you attended class or the school, one
things for sure he was a one-off bloke.
Thank you Barry, you're cool mate, thank you for
ever, old memories and young hopes.
Graham Marr
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