Some time ago Big John said to me we should have a profile of Bill Barnett on the web site-’After all’ he said, looking around at the meet,
‘Without him there would be none of this now.’
Bill Barnett
A profile by Roger Corker
Bill was born in 1927 and died 11 days short of his 75th birthday in 2002. In that time he had what appears to have been a full and interesting life. Called up into the Army in 1944 the next 3 years were spent
‘globe trotting’ at HM’s expense. De mobbed, he and a friend joined a travelling circus and he became a
‘jack of all trades’. When tired of this he came back to York and worked as a driver/warehouseman. He met and married Dot the love of his life and had 2 sons and a daughter. By now he was working in the building/construction industry up and down the length of the UK and occasionally abroad as a machine operator,- at which he was a ‘natural’-, and was sought out by major players in that industry.
Away from work his major loves were his family, socialising, gardening, stamp collecting, and railway modelling. From this latter he and a group of friends formed NCAM at Starbeck and Bill was the guiding light for many years. If there is a train heaven Bill is no doubt looking down with a degree of pride and pleasure at what he was instrumental in achieving.
Bill was good company and always ready to help with problems but wasn’t too keen on fools. Testimony to his personality was demonstrated by the big turn out at his funeral. He is still spoken of kindly despite the passing years.
Footnote. On my first visit to NCAM a man came up to me and said ‘I haven’t seen you before’- to which I replied it was my first visit. We soon got involved in all things 4’8&a half and an argument about who had more old copies of Model Railroader. I had to admit defeat as I had mislaid most of mine returning north,
but I think I’d have lost anyhow. It was of course Bill and he asked if I was considering joining the group. I replied ‘No’ and he was wondering how to respond when I added that the first thing I did when I came through the door was join-- at which he beamed. He was a nice man. JBS
Photograph
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Howard
Barnfather
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A profile of Bill Barnett
It is sad that we can only find Howard’s great picture of Bill. For the sake of
our records please see if you have a pic including Bill (even if not very good)
and grab me at a meet . Thanks, John
