COLIN BARRETT (1928-2018)
Colin Barrett, who has died at the age of ninety, was an ex-player, President and Chairman of Reading Rugby Club and was one of a number of central characters in shaping the club in the second half of the 20th century. He joined in 1951 and became a regular player in the scrum for the next decade, either as a wing forward or a second row. He captained the side and in 1955 he was rewarded for his contributions as a player with an Honours Cap. Colin was one of the few remaining Berkshire Wanderers – ie members who joined before the club changed its name in 1956. Fellow Wanderers David Bowyer and Peter Walters are still club supporters.

Colin’s early education was at prep school at Presentation College but he learnt his rugby at Dauntsey’s School in Devizes, Wiltshire. He went to college in Leicester where he read Civil Engineering and continued playing rugby for the college. Upon returning home he and his brother set up their own Civil Engineering business by erecting fences and making small paths. Their business grew, as did Colin’s enjoyment of rugby. He joined the Berkshire Wanderers with his brother and was soon making his contribution to the club. He along with Syd Fox, David Bowyer and his brother were amongst team members who helped erect the first club house on Holme Park, completed in time for the 1953 season, and they were founding members of Reading Rugby Club. Before the clubhouse was built the players had had to change in the Shepherds House pub at the top of Shepherds Hill and jog to and fro to Holme Park to play. The official opening was in 1954 with a match against a strong Harlequins side and it was fitting that both Colin and his brother Rodney were included in the Berkshire Wanderers team. Colin’s stepson, Simon Fixter, tells me Colin’s enjoyment of the game with his fellow players, who became life-long friends, was such that he even relinquished his fiancée at that time to continue playing rugby and enjoy their company!

After retiring from playing Colin maintained a life-long commitment to Reading RFC and continued to make an outstanding contribution off the field. Between 1954 and 1956 he was 1st Team Secretary and he subsequently joined the General Business/Executive Committee, something which involved him in running the club for the next 35 years.
In 1962 he joined the list of Vice-Presidents, something he continued until he was honoured with Life Membership in 1978. In 1966/67 he had a spell as Vice Chairman, as well as chairman of the Ground Sub-committee, which no doubt prepared him well for his spell as Club Chairman between 1973 and 1976. During this time he was instrumental in building a club extension to house the squash courts and other facilities.

After his spell as Chairman he continued to sit on the Executive Committee for another seven years. Finally, in 1989, he was elected as Club President, a post he held for three years, as was usual at that time. The President’s job is particularly important on match days when he is the welcoming face of the club, a job Colin did particularly well. It is also to have an advisory role with the main committee and Colin’s knowledge, experience and personality made him ideal for this too.

Colin died on Christmas Day, 2018. Shortly before, he had sent me a Christmas card in response to my personal invitation to attend the Honours Cap dinner. He said that “all being well I will be there. “ Sadly, it was not to happen.
Ted Goodhew

With many thanks for contributions from Simon Fixter, Peter Walters and David Bowyer.
SUMMARY OF COLIN’S CONTRIBUTION.
1954/55 HONOURS CAP
1954-56 1ST XV SECRETARY
1958-64 GENERAL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
1962-1978 VICE PRESIDENT
1966/67 VICE CHAIRMAN: GROUND SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
1973-1976 CHAIRMAN
1976-83 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1978-2018 LIFE MEMBER
1987-1997 TRUSTEE
1989-1992 PRESIDENT
1951-2018 ALL THE ABOVE - PLUS SUPPORTER.