Barrie was born in 1938, at Cardiff General Hospital, where he was the first child, ever born there, by Caesarean.
His parents lived in Newbridge, South Wales, where Barrie was brought up (Newbridge is just North of Cardiff).
Barrie’s father worked at the local coal mine and was the manager responsible for the cable trams and wagon system, in and out of the mine. It is believed this is where Barrie’s love of trains and railways began.
Barrie was a top pupil at Newbridge Grammar School where he won a State Scholarship to study at Birmingham University in 1956.
He graduated in 1960 with a First Class Honour BSc in Physics.
Barrie then went home, to look for a summer job before returning to start his PhD the following term. To find that summer job, he went to the Labour Exchange in Cardiff, where he met Ann. They fell in love, and when it was time for Barrie to continue his studies, they both returned to Birmingham.
Barrie and Ann were married in 1963 and remained married for 61 years. Barrie would say that “Ann deserved a medal the size of a frying pan” and on their 60th wedding anniversary in 2023, Barrie presented Ann with an engraved golden frying pan to celebrate their diamond jubilee!
One of their first homes in Birmingham, was in Bourneville, within the smell of Cadbury’s chocolate factory there. They later moved to Harborne and lived there for 41 years, where they had three children.
Barrie was well known and liked at university, as he was a great motivator and supporter of students, helping them to succeed in their science studies.
On retirement from Birmingham University, where Barrie had become a professor, they moved to Bourne End in Buckinghamshire.
Since he was young, Barrie liked drama and music and he was an accomplished pianist and organist. During the funeral service, we even listened to a recording, of a piece called Evensong, played on the organ at All Saints Church, by Barrie.
By past Master Martyn Wheatley