Place of Birth: London

Siblings: One brother (Stephen, think he is fairly well known in Bridge circles as he is so shy and retiring).

Wife: Hazel, married 1971; regular bridge partner and we never argue at the table but rarely talk on the way home…..

Children: Jonathan 1976, Adam 1979; neither play Bridge although Adam made 6NT Doubled on Yahoo bridge once and then asked us what 6NT Doubled mean.   They both got aBRIDGEd for recent presents so they have no excuse now!

Grandchildren: Not that we know about

Lives: Moved to Hertfordshire now, so much closer to the office.

Education: Not much

Previous jobs: Whole life in IT industry, MD of own international software business.

Do I play Bridge:

Yes I do- quite a lot when I wasn’t working; probably an “average” player.    I am an EBU Premier Master (getting close to Regional Master, should only take another 5 years or so!) and also very pleased to be an ACBL Life Master, having achieved that just before I started my job with EBU.

My EBU job: 

Saw the advert on the website and thought it worth a try.  Feel my job is a great challenge and I am hoping to help the EBU move forward at a greater pace.

What do I do:

Well, I tell everyone we just sit around and play bridge all day – after all that’s what I did at school!   However, the truth is I am the General Manager, responsible for the performance of the 20+ professional staff who work for the EBU.   I work with the Directors to implement their agreed policy and, of course, act as an interface between the members who wish to speak with me and the staff and Board.  As an average bridge player, I also share the views of many of our “mass membership” and I try to promote their needs to the policy makers.

Favourite Bridge hand:

Can never remember them….

Favourite hobbies:

Well, apart from Bridge, which was quite a consuming hobby before I recommenced work, I support Tottenham Hotspur, so I am very used to high stress levels; I enjoy overseas travel and I eat too much which is self evident when you see me.  Enjoy a good action film, and watching The Sopranos, The West Wing and 24.  

We asked Barry some questions about himself and his answers are below:

Who would you like to be stranded on a desert island with and why?
Tough question that I probably shouldn’t answer here!

If you could come back as an animal what would it be?
A Cat.   Eat, sleep a lot, eat, sleep a lot more, bit of exercise terrorising some rodents or rabbits, and then repeat the process endlessly

If you weren’t working for the EBU, what would be your ideal job?
I wouldn’t work

If money was no object, tell us about your dream holiday?
I really love Australia, and would like to spend a year or so living in different parts of the country

Who do you most admire and why?
Winston Churchill—inspiring man, great orator and above all, unpredictable

What book are you currently reading?
Only read on holiday

What CD is in your car?
I have 6 or so CD’s in the car – some are self produced from my IPOD collection, the others are Beatles, Four Seasons, and Oasis

Which 4 famous people (dead or alive) would you invite to a dinner party?
My 4 famous people: Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe (had to include a pretty woman for Bill) and Margaret Thatcher.  Conversation should be interesting!

What is your ideal night out (or in)?
Going to see the Beatles perform (I wish) or The Beach Boys (done that) or The Four Seasons (done that too!).

Tell us something about you that no one else in the EBU would know?
I love technology and gadgets and have wasted way too much money on them in the past.  Hope to grow out of this habit soon, but no sign yet!