Harry Barker

Harry

Barker

1923-2008

One of the most popular members of the Rotary Club of Bourne was Harry Barker, war hero and retired businessman, who became well known in the district for his work with the club and as head of Eastern Farming Implements (EFI) in Essendine Road, Carlby. He was a founding member and past president (1976-77) and had been presented with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award in recognition of his dedication.

Mr Barker's great love was flying and he was killed while piloting his single-engine aircraft which came down on the edge of Rutland Water, near Stamford, on Wednesday 13th February 2008, the day after he had celebrated his 85th birthday. He had taken off from Spanhoe airfield near Harringworth, in his Piper Arrow at about 3.15 pm and crashed fifteen minutes later. The cause of the disaster was never established. Fellow Rotarians paid tribute to his work and vice-chairman Bob Brown said: "Harry was such a gentleman and everybody liked him. He will be a great loss to the club."

He was born at Loose, Kent, and attended Maidstone Grammar School but during his closing years as a pupil, the Second World War broke out and he left school in 1941 at the age of 18 and joined the Royal Air Force where he learned to fly while training as a pilot, spending much of this time at an air base in Alabama, USA, although he later became a bomb aimer whose duties included that of second pilot.

He became a crew member of a Stirling bomber taking part in thirty bombing missions over Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin, he helped ferry personnel and supplies for special operations throughout Europe and in June 1944, his squadron supported the D-Day operation by simulating a naval attack on the Pas de Calais area of France to fool the Germans into thinking the landings would take place there rather than Normandy. He was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the war, Mr Barker settled in Lincolnshire, first selling tractors and then combine harvesters, taking over EFI in 1962 and soon became widely respected in the farming world. He was a past president of the Agricultural Engineers' Association and Sue Green, group secretary of the Bourne branch of the National Farmers' Union described him as "a stalwart of the agricultural industry in the Bourne area". She added: "He built up a reputable business and was well liked and respected throughout the trade. He gave a first class service to farmers that enabled them continue harvesting through the busiest period of the year and he will be greatly missed."

Civilian life enabled him enjoy flying again, gaining his private pilot's licence at the age of 60 and he soon clocked up almost 1,000 hours of flying for pleasure. But his membership of Rotary for 30 years gave him particular satisfaction, always volunteering to work at events and a popular and valued member.

The funeral took place at Peterborough crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving at the Abbey Church conducted by Canon David Staples. Mr Barker, who lived at Bourne Road, Carlby, left a widow, Nora, seven children and 13 grandchildren.