Wow! Just seen how many views to this thread in such a short period of time - I think this goes to show how much Barry'll be missed. Seems that I've spent all day either on the phone or talking with many of his mates - I don't think that it's really sunk in yet that we won't be seeing him again.
I'd gotten to know him pretty well in the couple of years that I've been back in the NE, especially as we both were keenly involved with our respective clubs - I was talking with him only the other day about combining a few of our summer-league matches so that hopefully more lads could get to fish together away up the coast & have a bit more friendly competition.
However, I do feel a little inadequate compared to all those who've fished with him for many years and known him a lot longer, and there are many who (understandably) I haven't been able to get hold of today. I do hope though that there is some way that everybody's comments can be passed along later to Barry's family - like I say the sheer volume of response speaks volumes about his contribution to our local angling scene.
Cheers, Gary.