On 20th September Holy Trinity Church was full of people who were there to celebrate the life of Bert Perkins. Bert was born in 1922, in Church Street, the house no longer exists. School days were spent at Barrow Junior School, where he stayed until the age of 14; he then went to work at Driver Hosiery on Sileby Road. Most of the site is now housing but Charnwood Mill still stands.

When war was declared, Bert enlisted in the navy, he was just weeks away from his 20th birthday. Bert sailed to America to join the landing craft, LST113. This was to be his home for the duration of the war. Being flat-bottomed the craft was not the most stable of vessels on the open seas, so the journey back to Europe must have been horrendous. The majority of Bert’s war years were spent in, and around, the Mediterranean serving as the ship's cook, because, when asked if anyone could cook, Bert replied that he could boil a kettle. When the end of the war was declared, Bert sailed to Scotland to be demobbed and, in 1946, soon made his way back to Barrow.

Life with his old friends soon returned to normal, with bike rides and going to dances. It was at one of these dances at Loughborough Town Hall, that Iris Marlow, who lived on Sileby Road, caught Bert’s eye, he took her home, and that was the start of their romance. Bert and Iris were married in 1950, making this year their 73rd anniversary, what a wonderful achievement.

Being a true man of Barrow, Bert immersed himself into village life. He was secretary of Barrow Old Boys Football Club for many years, taking on any task that needed doing, such as marking the pitch out and even running the line if required. His interest never waned, he always wanted to know the match result.

Bert’s other great love was cricket. In later life, when no longer umpiring, he could be found at the cricket club on Nottingham Road, enjoying the game, and also the teas. Bert was a stalwart member of the Bishop Beveridge Club, supporting all events put on by the club, including playing cribbage with his friends at the weekly Tuesday games afternoons, while Iris played scrabble. Bert was even persuaded to call the numbers at the monthly bingo sessions.

A gentleman and also a gentle man, Bert was respected and admired by all who knew him, he will be greatly missed but not forgotten.

Val Gillings.