BARRY PICKERING

WITH the death at the weekend of Barry Pickering, Hexham has lost one of the most colourful characters it has ever known. Behind an outwardly camp and outrageous persona, he was dedicated to the promotion of the wellbeing of Hexham. Although he didn’t become involved in public life until he was 60, he will go down in Hexham’s annals as one of the most memorable mayors the town ever had. He made success in the Northumbria and Britain in Bloom competitions his personal crusade during his two-year mayoralty. When the judges were due, he would be out with his strimmer and his trowel, dispatching overgrown grass and unwelcome weeds with zeal. And he even braved the wrath of the district’s traders by organising the removal of unauthorised advertising signs which he felt detracted from the appearance of the town. But his hard work and attention to detail were rewarded in 2005, when Hexham won the national Britain in Bloom large town category, as well as an accompanying Silver Gilt award and the title of best tourism town. Hexham was also anointed England’s favourite market town by Country Life magazine during his time as mayor. He was born in Hexham in 1937, the son of Joseph and Thora Pickering, who used to run a timber yard on Tyne Green which evolved into the Riverside caravan park. With the outbreak of the Second World War, Barry was evacuated to Nenthead, where he did his early schooling, but he returned to Hexham as a pupil at the town’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. On leaving school, he went to work for the Haltwhistle-based Smith and Walton paint company. Eventually, be became a sales representative for the company, travelling all over Britain, and he spent time living in Ireland and in Glasgow. He then had a switch of career, becoming involved in the insurance and estate agency world, opening an office in Newcastle. In 1989, however, he returned to Hexham to take over the caravan park, while partner Tony Davidson developed a limousine hire business from the same address. Under Barry’s expert guidance, the caravan park became hugely successful, and achieved the coveted five-star rose award for a decade. He also became very much involved in the limousine business, where his talents as a very gifted mechanic were put to good use. Tony said: “Mechanical engineering was his first love and he rebuilt a vintage Rolls Royce virtually from scratch. “He had his own lathe and milling equipment, and made many of the parts himself.” As well as his Rolls Royce, he also had a Daimler, and an MG Midget he built for Tony. Barry was a member of both the Rolls Royce and Daimler Owners’ Clubs. His other great passions were snorkelling and scuba diving, which he pursued all over the world – even off the cold Northumbrian coast. He also enjoyed travel, and made an annual pilgrimage to Thailand, as well as enjoying other Asian holidays. He first made an impact on the local government scene in 2000 when, standing as a Conservative, he won a dual by-election for the Hexham Gilesgate seat on both Tynedale Council and Hexham Town Council, caused by the death of another former mayor, Coun. Norman Reed. Soon afterwards, he was elected to Northumberland County Council, but he did not seek re-election to County Hall. From the outset, he made no secret of his sexual orientation and once offered to be the fairy on top of Hexham’s Christmas tree! Tributes have been pouring in all week, led by officers and staff from Tynedale Council. Council leader Coun. Michael Walton said: “I will miss Barry greatly both as a friend and a councillor. “He was never afraid to get down and dirty when something needed doing, and his legacy will be the improvements to Tynedale and Hexham in particular that his work instigated.” Tynedale chief executive Richard Robson added: “Barry Pickering was an inspirational councillor who cared passionately about Tynedale as well as his home patch of Hexham. “He worked tirelessly, taking the lead role in a number of environmental and recycling projects that made a real difference to people’s lives in the area. “I think, however, he would have been most proud of both his term as Mayor of Hexham Town Council and his success in championing Northumbria and Britain in Bloom and ‘England’s Favourite Market Town’. “He cared passionately about the parks and their displays and could often be found assisting the staff with weeding and maintenance as well as taking the lead role in presenting the parks to visiting inspectors by driving them around in his vintage Rolls Royce. “Barry was a larger than life character, full of humour and wit, and yet with a deeply held care for and commitment to the area, and we shall miss him. “Our thoughts and kind wishes go to his partner Tony, his family and friends.” Barry was also held in high regard by the Rector of Hexham, Canon Graham Usher, who said a prayer at his civic partnership celebration at Langley Castle. Canon Usher said: “Barry was a great and lively character who put his heart and soul into representing the interests of local people. “His two years as Mayor of Hexham, supported behind the scenes by Tony, centred on hard work, a personal pride in his town, and not a little touch of outrageous flair.” Present Mayor of Hexham, Coun. J.B. Jonas, who spent two years as Barry’s deputy, also paid tribute. He said: “He had this rather bluff and tough exterior, but underneath, you could not find a kinder nor a more generous person. “He was the catalyst which brought about all Hexham’s success in the Britain in Bloom awards.” The funeral service at Hexham Abbey on Monday morning is expected to be one of the biggest Hexham has seen in many years. Barry, who organised his own funeral service, requested no flowers, but has asked for donations to any of three charities; Macmillan Nurses, the Tynedale Community Hospice, or the St Wilfrid’s Project at the Abbey.