Tribute to Dad Reg Barrick
Dad was an extraordinary person, a fantastic caring supportive dad, loving husband, and proud grandad. Dad and mum were so happy when Nigel married Catherine and always so proud of his granddaughters Francesca and Katie who both graduated from University. He often referred to their 10 - A stars and said we did not celebrate this wonderful achievement enough.
Dad was always there for me from day one in my life through to his passing at the great innings of 94. Whether it was helping me to make my first sandcastle on a beach in Devon and Cornwall, regularly with my maths homework or coaching me to become such an accomplished cricket player and sportsman, well that might be debated….
I can remember such a happy childhood spending lots of time together with my mum and dad and nan and how fortunate I have been to share so many happy times together with all three of them. Dad was always making things and I remember one Christmas he made me a full-scale fort for me to play with my cowboys and Indians toy figures.
Dad was born in Walthamstow in 1926, Reginald George Charles.His mother was Florence Barrick (who maiden name was Todd) had two sisters Minnie, Doris, and two brothers Harry and Horace. His father was George Barrick who unfortunately left them at an early age which would not have been easy.  His father had 5 sisters Annie, Dolly, Sis, Kit, Bella and 2 brothers Arthur and Frank. Kit was responsible for Reg joining the Post Office Telephones in 1941. Which later became British Telecoms.
Dad went to Maynard boys’ school in Walthamstow where he was often top of the class. Dad then moved to Epping school during the early war years where his school headmaster said of him ‘Reg is intelligent, interested in maths ,woodwork - a keen steady worker who will do very well, honest and reliable’ Because of the danger from bombings the family then moved from near North Weald airfield to Wanstead to live with his mother’s sister Minnie and her daughter Audrey. Minnie and Florence were extremely close.
During the war dad trained in the fleet air arm, but the war finished before he could see active service. After the war dad studied successfully for many city and guides qualifications for both engineering and technology. During the 60s and 70s he worked for BT in traffic management in Romford and Ilford, then he moved to London where he helped set up a new Consultancy team.
At work his door was always open to new ideas and different ways of doing things. This was several years before BT was privatised ion 1984 - and in effect still a Civil Service Dept. (in those days BT managers sat by the window and had chairs with arms! ). A letter from a Director at Kidder Peabody (one of BTs large clients) in 1984 said ...” Dear Mr Barrick ... I feel it is appropriate to communicate to you our appreciation of how smoothly the change was made to our new address ... clearly it was a team effort from many at British Telecom ... top quality professional standards and unique application”. Reg expanded the team across London and at one point managed over 1000 staff.
One of Reg’s team recalls his comments on their own personal development “I think you will do well here ... most of the people are not as clever as they think they are” ... talk about confidence building. ‘’Reg was an open and honest character who believed in saying correctly what he thought. He was an easy man to have as your boss, a people person, who loved his sport’’. Reg was instrumental in helping build a squash court on the roof of the BT office Southwark Bridge Road a crazy idea at the time, but it must have appealed to his challenging nature.
Dad eventually completed 44 years service with BT receiving a personal message from the BT chairman to thank him for his services.
After the war Dad played cricket for Rafarno at Nutter Lane Wanstead (ROYAL AIR FORCE ARMY ROYAL NAVAL OFFICERS) a club up set for the boys returning from World War 2. He joined South Woodford cricket club in the early 60s playing for them for over 25 years until his retirement in 1985 when he and Mavis were made Vice Presidents of the club. I also played for the cricket club from my early teens and have many happy members playing in the same team with my dad for over 10 years.
In 1970 Reg was awarded the best allrounder player of the year. He is remembered by many members as a great supporter of the club, helping with maintenance and attending numerous social functions with Mavis. Dad is remembered for having a very distinctive cricketing style, not always content with whipping of one bail, but normally all three stumps out of the ground. He had a reputation for a very loud appeal when he thought it was out, which could be heard across the whole pitch.
 
Mum was born in Woodford and the family home was 23 Gloucester Road Woodford. It was close to Nutter Field where he first played cricket for RAFARNO. There were several large trees opposite the entrance to the house where Mavis and Reg would say goodbye. This has always held some lovely memories for them both. Reg met Mavis at the Roebuck dance hall in Buckhurst hill and later married in 1952.
 
Dad was keen on DIY, improving the house in Summit Drive where they moved to after their marriage. I can remember many occasions when he was under the Morris Minor car doing repairs into the late evening with his close friend and cousin Rodney. Rodney was a talented craftsman, he helped dad build a large extension to the back of the house, sharing ideas and laughs along the way.
 
In 1985, Reg and Mavis retired to Eastbourne where they lived together for over 30 years enjoying a happy new life by the sea. Reg continued to use his DIY skills by renovating the new house in Salisbury Road. He became a keen tennis player of Rompa the tennis club across the road, where Reg as a committee member played a key part in helping to develop the new pavilion. Reg was also a highly active committee member of the Meads Residents Community Association.
Both mum and dad very much enjoyed their second life in Eastbourne regularly attending the theatre and entertaining friends new and old. Unfortunately, mum passed away in 2015 after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease for a few years. Dad missed mum greatly everyday but remained independent and cheerful, never complaining about anything. We were able to visit most weeks taking him out to his favourite restaurant the Dickens for a full English breakfast or Sunday lunch. He even kept himself busy, driving up to the age of 90.
 
We would like to make a special reference and thank you to Judy who looked after Reg’s house with great care. Judy was a dear friend to dad, and they shared a great sense of humour and he said ’she was a ray of sunshine’. We would also like to say a special thank you to his carers Tina and Mandy and all of team from EVERYCARE. They have been so professional and caring and treated dad with dignity and respect, nothing was too much effort for them. Dad considered Tina and Mandy as dear friends and looked forward to their daily visits, chats and laughs. Due to the wonderful meals they cooked him his trouser size  expanded rapidly although we never told him his athletic 34 waist was increasing to a 38.
 
Dad was a truly knowledgeable man who was continually positive and cheerful. He was always there for his family as a sounding board to give advice, to listen and have a view on everything from economics, politics, sport and general life. Today Nigel, Catherine, Francesca and Katie would like to pay tribute to a lovely, caring man, a dear friend, A GREAT DAD, GRANDAD who will be sadly missed but forever in our hearts.