Barney joined the Pusser, after a stint in the RNR, as a MEM (M) in 1984. After some training on HMS Glamorgan he joined the Gas navy, winning the jackpot being drafted to the Mighty Manch in 1985, and straight away got a jolly to the Gulf for 6 months. After this busy stint he was fortunate enough to continue his sea time with an even tougher assignment that some remember as Global 86! He went on to 'Mechs' course in Sultan and then to HMS Invincible / Illustrious, with visits to Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan, and also was awarded the LS&GC followed by the MSM. In between he terrorised many young stokers at Sultan working in the 'Tiffs' training cell but also spent time at the Leadership School; where he continued torturing young sailors. He fitted in Brickwoods and Parade duty at the Royal Albert Hall for the November Ceremonies too. After a stint in BAE in Pompey as ships services liaison he finished his time as a civil servant in Uniform in Semaphore Tower.
RIP Shipmate, a great friend to many, and a much respected Shipmate.
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Matthew David Barnes
- A Personal Tribute by Pincher Martin (as spoken at the funeral service)
It is with great pride but a very heavy heart that I have been asked to say a few words about Matt, a very close personnel friend of nearly 40 years. In reality I didn't see Matthew as a friend but as part of my family, it was a unique relationship that I will cherish forever. He was someone who you could rely on and wouldn't hesitate to go out of his way if you called upon his support. His loyalty to us was second to none.
I am sure I speak on all our behalf's when I say what a wonderful man he was, and I still cannot believe we have lost my best oppo; occasionally his loyalty was too extreme and I remember one time, on a deployment known to some as Global 86 on the mighty HMS Manchester, when we were helping the locals out in Vancouver, I happened upon a lady who was keen to know me better. Concerned for my welfare Barney solved the issue of me wandering off to God only knows where and to what terrible fate, he simply told the lady in question I might have a sexually transmitted disease, and thus in his simple but effective way he kept his flock together.
When Matt met Maggie, he met his soul mate and became a devoted family man. Maggie, Laura, Jack and Sophie meant the world to him, he told us many times how proud and contented he was in Laura and Jack's chosen careers and was happy that they are now finding their own way in life.
He was generous to a fault giving his time to many things including coaching at his beloved Havant Rugby Club, and planning camping trips. He also arranged and partook in many charity events and the more people he could drag into his plans (often kicking and screaming) the better. I remember one of his challenges which originated from a throw away comment about climbing the three highest mountains in the UK. Matt saw this as an opportunity not to be missed and before long he had a group of 11 friends packed up in a minibus on the way to Ben Nevis to start the 3 Peaks challenge, this one I got out of. This was just one of many charity events that Matt and Maggie arranged. One of the craziest being the Race to the King, a 52-mile run across the South-Downs Way from Arundel to Winchester, that Maggie and Matt completed together!
Matt always seemed to be at his happiest at a social gathering whether that being planned or spontaneous. It would give Matt the opportunity to be the centre of attention and spin one of his many yarns more often than not about his time in the Navy. His home was always open with a welcoming invite. I remember many occasions when we would call at the Barnes household for no particular reason and being invited in for a cup of coffee, that coffee would soon turn to a beer followed by a gin and tonic or two and before you knew it you were leaving after several red wines late into the evening, we all know how Matt loved his cheap red wine, nobody could hunt out a bottle of red wine for less than a Euro like Matt could.
I loved Matt like a brother, I know that we will all miss him greatly. He liked to put you at ease with a witty comment when life was getting too serious, he was a very caring person who loved to help. There are many more stories that show what a good man he was, too numerous for me to recount here today. However, as Maggie has said, we must go on, but by God the world is a much worse place now that he has left us.
Matt was a quietly religious man and I am sure he is up with the big man now suggesting improvements and giving his opinions, as he did to us all. Most importantly though, I am sure he will be looking over Maggie, Laura, Jack and Sophie, terribly sad at missing the great adventures they all had planned, but immensely proud of how they are endeavouring on without him by their sides.
Goodbye, my friend.
There followed a spontaneous round of applause.
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