Principal, Queen Elizabeth College, Kensington, London
1977 – 1985
Robert Sandford Barnes
Died 18th May 2021
This was my Dad…
Dr Robert Barnes, aged 96, died struggling with dementia after a long healthy life. He was son of a long line of Liverpool blacksmiths traced back to the 17th century. He was brought up in Maghull during the time of the Liverpool blitz where he became a King’s Scout. He studied at Ormskirk Grammar school, doing his homework safely in the cellar at the smithy, and qualified to study Physics at Manchester University.
Mid studies at Manchester he broke off to help develop the first radar units for the navy during the Second World War.
Post war he completed his Doctorate to start work as a nuclear physicist at A.E.R.E Harwell, near Abingdon, where he met his wife, and quickly became Head of the Metallergy division. It was during this time he found himself rubbing shoulders with the famous German spy, Klaus Fuchs, as well as many other notable budding scientists. He traveled extensively with and without his family, lecturing and producing scientific research papers. His most significant research was the discovery of air bubbles, under the electron microscope, in iron and steel that caused weakness in the metal. This was particularly significant in the production of aeroplane wings and travel in space. This led to increased safety for air and space travel. He was one of the few people remaining who had met the reclusive Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
His distinguished career continued in London at BISRA, and then at British Steel where he became Chief Scientist.
Eventually he became the Principal of Queen Elizabeth College in Kensington where his career culminated.
On several occasions he shared his experience with the Duke of Edinburgh and became a Fellow of the Royal Institution and a member of the Atheneum which he often frequented in his retirement. He was also a Freeman of the City of London.
He was a loving husband to Julia for 68 years, a caring dad to Philippa, Alison, Penelope and Richard, a loving grandfather to Katie, Jamie, Naomi, Baya, Charlotte and Jonathan; as well as doting great grandfather to Tobias and Libby, with another on the way.
He was passionate about sailing, always taking risks on family sailing holidays in a small wooden Eventide yacht. His interest in sailing never wained and he spent much of his retirement with Julia sailing more comfortably in the Mediterranean, leading groups on the Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally until the age of 89 when he gave up sailing.
After that he enjoyed tamer adventures at home and abroad with family and friends.
He spent most of his life living at the family home Pigeon Forge, Daneshill, The Hockering, Woking, Surrey. The name of the house was chosen after a visit to this place, with the family, in the USA, where he worked for a while in California. Naturally this name had a link to his roots in Maghull, Lancashire as well as the pigeon coop at the back of the house.
He died peacefully in his subsequent home at Ashwood Place, Ashwood Road, Woking.
Robert Barnes, fellow fine,
Can you shoe this horse of mine?
Yes, good sir, that I can,
As well as any other man.
There’s a nail, and there’s a prod,
And now, good sir, your horse is shod.
From the Oxford book of Nursery Rhymes. This rhyme originates from Northern England and possibly from the long line of Blacksmiths that my father came from…
Miss Philippa Kay Barnes
Last QEC Council Meeting 4th July 1985
With the permission of Neville Marsh we have a photo of the last QEC Council meeting of 4th July 1985 with Dr. Barnes in the centre (see the key below).
