The following is mostly taken from A Critics Corner – Chapter 4. I’m grateful to my old mate Duck, who lived two doors down from Barry and his dad Percy for some priceless memories.
When we were kids the end of the long summer months spent on the cricket field did not mean hibernation and solitary confinement with an X-Box.
We played out come rain or shine and often well past the appointed hour negotiated with respective parents for our return. One bloke and his Dad gave a small group of us so much to get through the winter months.
This is my little tribute to Barry and Percy Boyd.
The White Arrows
In the winter months football was our game. As kids we simply loved playing sport and whatever the weather we would be outside getting “black bright” as the term went although I am sure this term would be banned now by the politically correct brigade.
We played full-blown games between the expensively recruited Willow Gardens X1 and The Rest, the poor kids in Woolworths boots and handed down kit.
They had all the latest new kit and when we could not get a full game going we played mini games on the spare land where the clubhouse now sits. For target practice we used the old garage culminating in the door being buckled to such an extent that it would not shut. It could not have been my fault; most people know I could not hit a barn door from three paces but it hardly seemed to matter as there was nothing worth nicking, the advent of a motorised mower still years off at the perennially broke Villas.
We also used to climb on to the rickety asbestos roof to spy on the legendary Mrs Blackburn who liked to get her kit off and catch some rays in her back garden. She was a self-contained nudist colony right on our doorstep and we were teenage inquisitors who’s sightings of naked women were as rare as wilderbeest. We even tried getting closer, crawling on all fours through the long grass, weeds and dog shit but were useless and would never have made the SAS. So it was back to risking a broken neck and asbestos poisoning to cop a glance of her wrinkly old boobs through a pair of stolen binoculars.
We were encouraged in our footballing endeavours by a great guy called Barry Boyd and his dad, Percy. They set us up in our very first five-a-side team entering tournaments all over Bradford. Barry was a single guy in his thirties living with his dad in a house adjacent to the field. He had a great job as a sales rep for a local bakery and both shared a passion for MG sports cars and life in general. As Duck recalls…
He got up one night to have a piss and saw his MG getting pushed down the drive so chased them off with a spade; they had got into the garage but Barry had taken the starter motor off so after cutting through the soft top and releasing the hand brake they were pushing it away. He was very passionate about that car as he and Percy were about the Buy British campaigns of the day..
If you remember in the seventies there were stickers urging Buy British. It was nearly the end of the world when my dad opened the garage door to show Barry his new company car – a Nissan!
Our football team were an odd mix but Barry and Percy never judged any kid, simply believing that even the roughest of diamonds was worth investing hope in. And they dealt in hope in spades as we rarely repaid their “investment” in time and the bakery’s petrol for the Ital. We took some beatings but we loved every tournament.
Nobody cared about cramming thirteen of us into a Morris Ital and haring off. On our trips to tournaments in nearby Keighley, Barry would take the minor roads to avoid being convicted of imitating a school bus. He liked to drive fast so often we ended up with bruised heads being battered against the ceiling of the Ital as we hurtled over the tops.
He was also one of the lads, perhaps not wanting all the crap of growing old. The old cricket roller was parked outside his house. Many evenings he would come out and we would be all piled on using it as a seesaw – screech, screech it went, up and down, clearly needing lubrication and struggling under the weight of about ten teenagers. Barry would often hop on for a chat
Percy too was patient and supportive of our doomed footballing exploits played out in the field.
We must have been having another bad day…maybe I had the Beckenbauer’s on? Anyway the ball goes over Percy’s garage for about the tenth time and doesn’t come back. We look over the fence to see Percy disappearing with our ball so I was dispatched to retrieve. After knocking on the door I realised Percy must have been having a bad day. He explained that he was trying to get some work done in the garden and couldn’t get anything done because of retrieving the f-ing ball.
He said we could have it back but if it came back over again, he’d stick a screwdriver through it! The first shot was back over so we ran for it laughing our heads off, knowing the ball would be back tomorrow.
These were great days, but Percy’s sad and sudden death was calamitous for Barry who seemed to give up on life almost immediately such was the loss he felt. It was as if a large part of Barry died the same instant and he was never remotely the same again. The pristine bungalow soon feel into disrepair and sightings of Barry, once such an effervescent and positive character, became rare and sad. Even the much loved vintage MG remained locked behind the rotting doors of the rickety old garage, decaying slowly over time.
All of us who Barry helped owe him a huge debt of gratitude for some wonderful times and encouraging our love of sport in general because he followed the cricket with equal enthusiasm. Men like him and Percy helped offer us kids something to look forward to, at the same time as instilling values that would stay with us for life.
Rest in peace the first and only coach, bus driver and bloody good bloke of White Arrows FC.
On and on the rain will fall, Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say, How fragile we are how fragile we are
(Sting)
Pat Sowden says
Hi Steve – so sad to hear the news of Barry’s passing. I lived 3 doors up from Percy and Barry in the 60’s and remember them moving in. My auntie and uncle ,Connie and Alan, lived next door to them – across the drive. We all became very good friends , especially Connie and Barry. Connie had no children and so she became sort of a surrogate “Mum” I suppose, a female influence, and they were very close. Alan was in the motor trade (Ford!) and so talk revolved a lot around cars. My memories of Percy and Barry are their sense of fun and laughter – and Barry’s laugh! He was that bit older than me and our tastes in music differed. I was into the Beatles and the up and coming Liverpool groups but Barry was the number one fan of Frank Sinatra! And his fave film was “High Society” – A lover of the “Rat Pack” and Tony Bennett – He would loan me his treasured LP’s so I could listen to some “proper music”!! – He and Percy were always pleased to see me, always lots of conversation, always lots of laughter, always full of life. They were both a pleasure to be around and I consider it a priviledge to have known them both. I’m glad our paths crossed. My auntie died last January aged 95 and I desperately tried to find Barry as I wanted to let him know. We had lost touch and sadly I never found him.
In the words of Frank – “I lived a life that’s full, I travelled each and every highway,And more, much more than this, I did it my way” – Rest in Peace Barry x
David Gillingham says
I only found out today that Barry had passed from my Dad. I met Barry when I was about 10-11 as my parents went to the Sinatra Music Society. He had a blue MG at the time and I loved that car and the very special one off V8 roadster he had built. I still have some great photos of both cars.
RIP Barry
Steve says
Beautifully put Pat…thank you.
Nicola Denbigh says
Barry was my god father. We lost contact with him around thirty five years ago and I’ve been trying to find him ever since. I have such great memories of Uncle Percy, and Uncle Barry who was the best, most original and most funny Uncle a child could have when growing up.
I moved away from Guiseley over 20 years ago but for some years always visited his house when I went to see family; needless to say that I saw the state of repair and he never answered the door. I sent cards and letters for over 20 years but never heard back from him.
My dad and another close family friend tried to find him but I suppose he never wanted to be found. Sadly they have both since passed away too.
It breaks my heart to hear Barry has passed away and I hope he found some happiness in the years since we lost him.
Steve says
Nicola he brought a lot of laughter to us as kids growing up but losing Percy seemed too big too handle…great guy and, judging by those who turned up to say goodbye, much loved.
JENNIFER SISWICK says
My late husband Graham and I were fortunate to know Barry and sad that his Father’s death shocked Barry into reclusion .Without doubt he was,prior to Percy’s passing ,a dynamic ,loyal friend with a dazzling persona .The last time I saw Barry he was immaculate as ever but deeply wounded in his soul.Both Graham and I would have loved to keep in touch and offer support but that wasn’t to be .I am sorry to have missed the opportunity to attend the funeral but so glad to learn that many were there to celebrate a great guy who made the world a better place .
RIP Reunited with Percy ,his soulmate .
Steve says
I don’t often get this response to a blog which typifies what we all thought of the both of them…thank you
Glennis Denbigh says
Barry and my late husband Martin were great friends and spent many happy times canal boating and driving round in the famous MG as well of course socialising. I first met Barry in the late 60s and he was best man at our wedding in 1971. We enjoyed meals out and regularly spent times at one another’s houses. It was there where I met Percy who was equally as friendly, funny and full of life as was his son. His passing had a huge effect on Barry’s life I am sad to say as well as to his many friends. Barry was thrilled to be asked to be our eldest daughter’s godfather and they doted on one another. We tried our best to keep in touch with Barry when Percy died but Barry more or less cut himself off from the world. Martin, Nicola and myself often called at the house but Barry never answered the door.We knew he was in as the curtains would twitch. This upset Nicola greatly as Barry was her favourite ‘uncle’.
Nicola and I are only sorry that we did not know that Barry had passed away. We would definitely have been at the funeral to pay our respects to a wonderful, true friend who touched the hearts of everyone he met. He will sadly missed.
Steve says
Beautifully put…sadly none of us got beyond those curtains…I cant imagine what he went through.
Sandra Nixon( née Boyd ) says
So sad to read news of Barry’s death, my father was Percy’s first cousin , & I remember Percy .& sisters Dot & Rose & Barry arriving in Ireland on holiday in 1969.
What a lovely time we had as there was a family reunion at my Aunt Amy’s house, how sad that Barry did not feel he could face life without his Dad & he seemed to have such caring friends too, I have some lovely photographs to remind me of his very happy days , Rest In Peace Barry ,
Steve says
A testimony to both of them the heartfelt comments written here.
Sandra says
Thank you Steve for putting these heartfelt comments on your website , it means a lot to relatives. Hope you have a very Happy Christmas.
Steve says
Thank you Sandra…happy christmas
Ivan O'Halleran says
I was so sad to hear of Barry’s passing. My mother and Percy were first cousins. I remember Percy,Barry and a friend of theirs called Wilf Carroll coming over to Ireland in 1968. Barry and I got on very well as we both loved cars. Percy had a great sense of humour as had Barry. They came back to Ireland again in 1969 with Percy’s two sisters. We had lovely outing with Barry that year. My last conversation with Barry was by telephone after Percy had passed away and we sent Christmas cards to one another for about 3 years and then all correspondents stopped and I never heard from him again. It was sad to think he became a recluse after Percy’s death. Both of them were genuinely very lovely men, and the world is a poorer place for their passing.
Steve says
Thanks for the comments Ivan
Julie lawler says
Aww so sad to hear the passing of Barry a lovely man, who I got to know from working the national museum of photography film and television the now national media museum, I worked in the box office and Barry was a regular who was always chatty, charming and always had a fun story to tell …. tonight I watched a programme about Laurel and Hardy and it got me thinking about Barry so I decided to look him up, sadly I found this post and just felt I had to comment, Barry was a lovely man always had tome for a chat a smile and a tale to tell, he loved his cinema and became a friend of film distributing leaflets in exchange for free cinema tickets, wish I had known sooner in order to pay my respects at his funeral …. RIP Barry …. with fondest memories
Julie lawler