The Worshipful Company of Engineers The Swordsman Newsletter ...

The Swordsman Issue 29
In his retirement in Henley Bill was instrumental in
helping to raise funds for the refurbishment and
development of St Mary’s Church and Leander Club
and in improving the finances of Phyllis Court Club.
Diana and Ian, as well as two colleagues, gave
addresses and the five Grandchildren read the lessons
at the Service
Diana said that her father was interested in everyone
and everything and always had an opinion. He had a
zest for life and said he learnt as a child to contribute
to the full in whatever he was doing. He hated
tardiness, laziness, scruffiness. To the end he polished
his shoes every night. His hobbies included golf where
he enjoyed the company as much as the game. And
horse racing which he took to in retirement at Ian's
suggestion with great enthusiasm and mixed success. I
read a recent text from him on my mobile which made
me smile. He had watched a race where his horse had
not performed well and he simply wrote 'came last, I
await excuses'.
Ian said how much his father had helped him and once
he got over the fact that Ian was not going to be an
engineer, just a mere accountant, he was the principal
guide in Ian’s career. His father was always the person
Ian turned to first for advice, whose judgement he
most trusted.
Ian said that his father had a great sense of humour,
was always on the ball, and was meticulous in all he
did.
It was a family joke that Bill’s postcards from overseas
business trips always detailed the aircraft type and
duration of the flight often adding in the population of
the country and a few other key statistics. Ian said that
today’s service is another example as it is exactly as
his father laid down in his funeral instructions. These
were first issued to Diana and Ian almost ten years
previously and been updated annually ever since.
Ian opened his address by saying that he was often
greeted with ’Oh yes, you’re Bill Barlow’s son aren’t
you? That is how I was known for most of my life and
I am proud of it. That’s when I wasn’t taken for his
younger brother which was something which delighted
him, me less so!’
Ian concluded by saying
‘Thanks for his long and full life.
Thanks for the support he gave me and Diana.
And thanks for being my Dad.
52
I am proud to say I am Bill Barlow’s son’. The rest of
us in the congregation echoed this thought with how
proud we were to know him.
Raymond Cousins
Raising Money for RedR
Assistant Peter Blair Fish
took part in the London to
Brighton Cycle Ride on
16th September raising
money for RedR of which
the Company is a Patron.
He writes:-
Very many thanks to
everyone for their
donations, especially
members of the
Worshipful Company of
Engineers. The total
amount of money donated
at my on-line web site is
over £1000. With other
donations and gift aid
supplements the total
received by RedR is
expected to be over £1400.
The ride was a good day
out. There was also a
group of riders from a
structural engineering
consultancy, Elliott Wood,
raising money for. The weather was fine, there was
plenty of food at the halfway point, and my brother
and I cycled on from Brighton to west of Worthing in
time for tea (52 miles was not enough). It was well
worthwhile to have raised money for RedR.
Peter, third from right, where’s your bike?