Tresco Times Summer 2010 p2.qxp:Layout 1
13/5/10
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Page 2 Tresco Times
RICHARD BARBER 1943-2010 Richard Barber first visited Tresco in 1979. Robert Dorrien-Smith explains:“It followed the publication of an article in a national magazine, describing him as the world expert on a new concept of property ownership called Timeshare. It wasn’t until at least ten years later that he owned up to having written the article himself.” Over the next twelve years, Richard applied his hugely inventive mind and vivid imagination to various financial based enterprises from the City of London to Wall Street. He came to live on Tresco with Kathy in 1991, having taken up the post of Timeshare Manager. Mr DorrienSmith recalls: “Richard was a bottomless fount of new ideas and it seldom seemed to concern him that very few of them had the smallest chance of success. The trick, when dealing with Richard, was to stay alert, identify the single practical idea and try to develop it. Meetings with Richard could be described as trying to catch a particular snowflake in a blizzard and then try to prevent it melting in your hand. Over time we perfected this unique skill. Richard’s genius and eccentricity helped create a special legacy in the form of the enduring success of Tresco Timeshare, as well as that great and much-loved institution the Tresco Times.” Richard took over the editing of the Tresco Times in 1991, on its second issue. Over the next nineteen years of his editorship, Richard transformed the Tresco Times from a photocopied, folded sheet of A3 into the glossy 12 page publication of today, which enjoys a readership of 90,000. For Richard, the island’s community was always at the heart of the Tresco Times. The other defining characteristic of the Tresco Times was, of course, Richard Barber, himself. Literary, humourous, creative, controversial, independent, generous, intelligent, mischievous and utterly dedicated to the island of Tresco, Richard and his
beloved Tresco Times were inseparable. Under a different editor, it would have been easy for it to have been an anaemic parish circular but, with Richard at the helm, this was an impossibility. Articles about the cricket club or the summer fete would sit on the same page as a diatribe against Robert Mugabe, George Bush or the government of the day, local and national. Some of Richard’s more political writings, along with those of regular contributor, the Commodore, garnered as many letters of complaint as they did those of support. It was hard to tell which correspondence gave Richard more pleasure. Richard always made sure that the Tresco Times punched above its weight. Its stories were recycled in national newspapers, quoted in Parliament by Government ministers and discussed on Test Match Special. It is hard to imagine another such newsletter, one concerned with a community of around 150 souls, which could make a similar claim.
Richard Barber - keeper of the OIKs
Richard’s writing was by no means confined to the pages of the Tresco Times. One of the artful and witty straplines that he wrote for the newsletter, also provided him with the title of his book about Tresco, The Last Piece of England.
The bibliography of Scilly is long and illustrious and it is a brave author who looks to add to it. Richard was more than equal to the task. The Last Piece of England is a tremendous book, both fascinating and entertaining. First published in 2002, Richard advertised his book at Penzance heliport on a large poster, which bore upon it a single recommendation: “The best book that I have ever read Richard’s mother.” Away from the office, Richard brought his infectious gusto to all elements of island life. He was an enthusiastic and talented sportsman. A fine goalkeeper, Richard loved football and was a devotee of Portsmouth Football Club. Another team dear to him was the OIKs (Off-island Kickers), which he founded and christened. For many years, Richard was a key member of the cricket team. As one would expect with Richard, as a batsman, he favoured the big hit rather than the stolen single. As a bowler, he took many wickets, while displaying a characteristic extravagance. Richard was the first to acknowledge this in the pages of the Tresco Times: The Timeshare Manager was nominated for one of the highlights of the season - 28 runs in one over off his bowling. (He sportingly and consistently bowled the same inviting ball every time against the Truro Doctors, who knew a good thing when they saw it.) Another favoured outdoor pursuit of Richard’s was sailing in his Cornish coble, Celtic Waffler. His boat was moored at Old Grimsby, close to his and Kathy’s cottage, Greenside.Their home was known for its style and hospitality. An evening spent with Kathy and Richard was always one full of laughter, good conversation and good food. He is buried in the churchyard, close to Greenside, the cricket pitch and his boat’s mooring, ensuring that there is now a last piece of England that will be forever Richard.