RIP Barrie Thomas

It was with great sadness I read this morning, Tuesday 4 July that our old friend
Barrie Thomas FRPS, FBIPP
had passed away in his sleep at his new home in Australia.

Over many years Barrie had been a good friend to SPS, having been with us as a lecturer, judge or
just visiting with Wigan 10. My personal experiences with Barrie bring back warm memories,
he would always say hello and shake hands at various shows and seminars I met him at.
I remember I once went with Barrie and Tony Myers to, I think it was Mike Reed's home, in Chester
to attend a meeting, which saw the formation of the RPS North West Digital Imaging Group.
I once gave him a lift to the RPS DIG meeting at Grappenhall, and chatting on the way he
said “if you ever need any help, I'm only on the end of the telephone”, as if I would! I would only show
my lack of knowledge in the subject if I had 'phoned him.

One year at our Exhibition judging day, which Barrie was one of the print judges, I asked him if he fancied
judging the SPS round of the then prestigious Martin Avery Digital Print Competition, knowing that he
had stopped club judging. “If the diary is free, I'll do it' he said.
The following day I had an email off him confirming he would do it for us.
On the night of the competition we had a sell out in the small hall, the group making a hefty profit.
This was not the last time he graced us with his presence at the SPS Digital Group. Barrie could never
do enough to help if he could and always with his pleasant, soft spoken, helpful manner.

I sent Barrie an email in April, when I first heard about his illness offering my own and all SPS member's
best wishes, what can you say in these situations, which must have been one of thousands of messages
he would have been getting at that time and true to form, he sent me a nice reply, (below)

"Dear Mike,

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and wishes at this time.
No doubt it will all resolve itself eventually but I hope that not too many
other people are forced to suffer with me.

Thank you again,

Barrie"

What a true gentleman he was. Everyone who knew him, on both sides of the world, will sadly miss him.
Rest in Peace Barrie.

Barrie Thomas at SPS 2002

If any other members wish to add to this page please send me your text,
MP