Memorial to Barry Pope
Barry Pope MRSC C.Chem 16th September 1947- 15th December 2008
As
Chairman of Burgess Hill & District Motorcycle Club Barry’s bike club
since 1976 I would like to say a write
words about Barry “Uncle Albert” to his close friends in the Club and his
motorcycling life.
I
have known Barry for the last ten years or so. I found him to be a quiet and
unassuming guy for whom I had a great deal of respect. He was one of the
"elder statesmen" of our club and a good man. Many people in the club
and indeed in the Mid Sussex area owe a lot to Barry for his unstinting work
with the Rider Training School- initially in Hassocks then Haywards Heath. I
know he was so disappointed when the school was forced to close in 2005.
In
the Club, he will be remembered by many as the chap who would always be there to
help the less experienced rider, only too pleased to take them under his wing
until their confidence built up. He would offer advice on machines, maintenance
and all the less glamorous but no less important aspects of motorcycling.
From
1976 to 2005 he ran the Rider Training School- that’s 29 years; that’s a
huge number of people and I don’t know how many Sunday mornings devoted to
helping others, regardless of the weather and perhaps missing out on other
activities with the Club, but that was the measure of Barry.
Latterly,
Barry had more time for other club activities. Barry was a very experienced
advanced rider and it was always good to see Barry ride for himself rather than
shadowing a new rider. He organised our Sunday morning runs, where his
encyclopaedic knowledge of the highways and the bye-ways of Southern England was
used to great advantage.
He
joined us on our trips over the water, and particularly enjoyed the Club trips
to France and Germany where he would make progress with the best of us, as the
true advanced motorcyclist he really was. He always enjoyed the really long
trips, having ridden thousands of miles in many countries in his younger days
and the trips with us perhaps enabled him to re-live some of his younger years.
It
is really only bikers who understand the “bug” and enjoyment of
motorcycling. And Barry had petrol and engine oil in his blood. Biking meant so
much to him. He spent much time helping others to get a taste of that same
enjoyment. Truly, biking helped define Barry as the individual he was.
I hope you find a “Beezer” some where in heaven Barry; thank you for your good company; you will be sorely missed by us all.
Motorcycling stalwart Barry dies, aged 61
