Barry was born in Matlock, Derbyshire, came through the care system as a baby and was successfully and happily adopted. He grew up in Dronfield and Chesterfield attending Gosforth & Fanshawe schools, then Chesterfield College and finally Sheffield Hallam University. Barry started working in IT in the manufacturing sector and then in IT support before becoming a non-clinical data and finance manager in the NHS. After assisting Portsmouth museums he re-trained as Teacher of History in 2010.
Barry worked until 2017 in an inner-city school with experience of working with disenfranchised pupils from a range of backgrounds. In 2018 Barry worked with unemployed young people via the Princes’ Trust TEAM programme, supporting them to overcome personal barriers and secure employment or training.
Barry returned to the Health & Social Care sector, combining his educational background by working in a charity based service supporting older adults with learning disabilities overseeing 14 homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now working in the automotive repair and insurance sector as a site manager.
Barry has lived and worked in a variety of places across Derbyshire: Dronfield, Codnor, Ashbourne, Matlock, Derby City, Chesterfield, Swadlincote and Heanor. He is currently in the process of moving to the Wirksworth/Cromford area with his wife and their daughter.
Barry is supportive, caring, dedicated and hard-working; qualities demonstrated thus far in his personal and political life. Barry is a passionate liberal who is committed to liberal values and equally dedicated to putting them in to action.
Barry is a devoted Liberal Democrat campaigner and has held a range of Lib Dem party roles locally and at regional & national level. Barry is a determined campaigner for local services, equality and voting reforms.
Whilst working in education he held union roles within UNISON and ATL (Association of Teachers & Lecturers). He is ardent supporter of age appropriate PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship & Economic education) and improving pastoral care in education. Alongside teaching History, RE and Geography to GCSE level he was also responsible for schoolwide careers guidance and Sex & Relationships education and drugs awareness programmes.
He will always work hard to better the lives of those around him, listening and progressing the concerns of others where ever possible.
Barry will work hard for all local residents, campaigning for high quality efficient local services, fighting to see that national infrastructure projects include our beautiful historic area.
