We pay tribute to Brian Henman, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, chair of the Barrow Parish Council for over 25 years, Charnwood’s Mayor in 1988/9, early founder of Barrow’s ukulele band and trustee of many local charities. In February Brian passed away, peacefully with his family at his side, at the age of 90.
Born in the village, in a house where the Scout Hut now stands, Brian was well known to many people in the village. Barrow Community Association first came into existence in 1971 but by 1977, Brian was Vice Chair and (because he was a building designer) he gave his time and expertise freely to draw the plans for the community centre which was built as a wing onto Humphrey Perkins High School and furnished by the village. It was around this time that Brian was also a member of the Barrow Voice editorial committee.
In 1976 he joined the Parish Council, was nominated Chairman in 1979 and served until May 2007. His knowledge and competence of all things local authority-related was frequently used to full extent by the Council. He cited one of his proudest moments was persuading British Gypsum to rethink their proposals for access of their lorries through the village. Brian’s tireless and daily attendance at the planning application enquiry resulted in entrances to the mine being relocated to Paudy Lane. Gwen Henman told me that he was also proud of being instrumental in having the A6 sited further away from the village than originally planned.
Other specific achievements in which Brian was instrumental were the High Street improvements, undertaken during 1998; the Village Green the following year and the Millennium Park which officially opened in June 2003. Brian also worked hard to establish the Parish Council office and meeting room. It was at about this time that I first met Brian, when I joined the Parish Council. We were a bit wary of each other at first, but I soon recognised his sense of humour and his innate kindness. He really had the interests of the village at heart and I grew to, at first, respect him and then like and admire him. One colleague from his days at the parish council commented that he was not afraid to be honest and he had moral courage, which meant he could sometimes come across as somewhat autocratic, but when he opened up, he became delightful company. It was an honour for all those who served with him.
Brian enjoyed his time with the Twinning Association. Mayor of Marans, Bernard Boucherau told me that the French twinning members remember Brian fondly. He said that Brian epitomised their view of the British sense of humour, “behind his serious face was a very funny Brian. He was a deadpan who, at the drop of a hat, distilled little ironic and enigmatic phrases.”
Brian wasn’t just a civic man. He was very musical and, as reported in Barrow Voice’s autumn issue, he met Gwen, his wife, when his American Square Dance Band (The Half Beats) played at the youth fellowship in Cossington in January 1953 and by the end of that year, they were married. In 1982, Brian established the Barrow upon Soar Ukulele Orchestra, which is still going strong. John Fletcher has said that the band is scheduled to play a tribute concert with proceeds to Brian’s charity-of-choice, the Air Ambulance. He told me that Brian “always gave 100%, he never did things by half”.
Brian is survived by his wife, Gwen, four children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Karisa Krcmar