In loving memory of John Barry Siddaway who sadly passed away on 1st March 2016 aged 89 years
Born 22 September 1926 in Portland Place, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Parents Mother -Helen Haseler who was daughter of manufacturing jeweller in Birmingham
Father - Kenneth Siddaway, son of owner of iron foundry in Birmingham.
Barry was an only child and had no cousins because Kenneth was only child and Helen had one sister (Nancy) who had no children and was killed in the war.
He went to West House Prep School, St James Road Edgbaston then Wrekin College public school in Wellington. The family home was at 10 West Drive, Heathfield Park. Birmingham
He did well at school and gained a State Bursary.
1944 - 47 Birmingham University to read mechanical engineering
He met his wife Mary at Birmingham University
1947-49 After his degree (Oct 1947 age 21) he was called up to the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) as an officer, and was second in command of a team of lecturers responsible for the supervising and training of technical instructors on maintaining vehicles
1949 (age 23) he did a post graduate apprenticeship at Rolls Royce and so he and Mary lived in Derby for a few months after they were married in Sept 1950. After completing his course, in 1951 Barry got a job at BTH in the turbine contracts department in Rugby, Mary’s home town , and in 1952 he was appointed section leader responsible for handling contracts covering blowers, compressors gas turbines etc. They lived at in 36 Ashlawn Road, in a house owned by Mary’s parents and just along the road from them at number 90. Claire (1953) and Mark (1956) were born while they were living there but soon Mary and Barry bought a double plot of land on Longrood Road and designed their own house at 36 Longrood Road. With a lot of effort they made a beautiful garden from what had been field.
Work After a short time at BTH Barry was made a manager. A newspaper report said that at 32 he was the youngest manager. Barry stayed as BTH became AEI then GEC and later on travelled to work in Whetstone. He stayed in sales and sometimes had to travel overseas to deal with contracts. He retired aged 60.
Hobbies:
Barry’s hobbies were gardening,
Fishing, mainly fly fishing which he started as a teenager with his parents and fished his whole life
Round Table – they had lots of fun at events to raise money for charity
Barry enjoyed time with his family – Mark married Helen and they have 3 children, Maria, Nicky and Christine, but Mark sadly died in 1998. Barry had 5 great grandchildren Killian, Kalonice, Carys, Joshua and Ivy.
He was witty and known for his excellent speeches, which he prepared and practised meticulously. He cared faithfully for both his mother-in-law and his mother when they were elderly.
His sight began to deteriorate about 15 years ago (2001) and by 2006 he was registered as sight impaired due to glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and cataract. The last 6 years of his life (from 2010) he was registered severely sight impaired. The risk of falls and other health issues meant it was best for him to live in a care home so he lived in Overslade Care Home for his last 2 years.
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