It is with deep sadness that we confirm that Barrie Rodgers has passed away aged 90 years.

(All photographs, copyright DON MORLEY)

We are indebted to his close and dear friend DON MORLEY for his assistance in penning this obituary.

Born at Mickleover, near Derby, Barrie Rodgers was just seventeen years of age and still a Engineering Apprentice when he commenced  his competitive motorcycling career having joined The Pathfinders and Derby MCC and also having acquired a 197cc rigid trials James which he used to good purpose for scrambles and even for road racing, competing at such as the old Osmaston Manor short circuit and Alton Towers.

He was in good company too, with such fellow Pathfinder members and likewise all rounders as Bill (W. A,) Lomas, John ‘Mooneyes’ Cooper, David and Jon Tye and so many other lesser beings including even myself, Don Morley.

After doing his National Service in the Army, again alongside John Cooper, Barrie joined his fathers haulage business in 1962 marrying his beloved Pat Flaherty in the same year 1962. I did the wedding photos. By then Barrie had also long dreamed of opening his own motorcycle shop which with wife Pat’s help and partner Trevor Smith, he eventually opened in Derby during 1963.

Trevor was also a useful road racer riding and racing Bultacos and although he later pulled out of the business, the duo soon became agents for Bultaco, Montesa in addition to Greeves, Cheetah, MZ and Yamaha, all of which Barrie also competed on at various times, and what had been Rodgers and Smith became massively successful not least due to such well publicised exploits as ‘Barrie Rodgers Motorcycles’ and of course Nationally as ‘BKR’.

Barrie’s major interests away from motorcycling ranged from his being a massive keep fit fan, swimming, skiing, and a love of vintage Model T Ford cars of which he owned several, but trials riding was always his first love and later on included riding in such as Deryk Wylde’s National Pre65 Championships on either a 350 Royal Enfield, which I built for him, and the ex-works 250 Royal Enfield which was registered ‘250RE’ which I used to own. 

As a trials rider, Barrie won 653 trials including such as the National Greensmith Trial and was runner up on 301 other occasions including his winning The East Midlands Trials Championships five times towards his incredible total trials award tally of 1520 gathered over his competitive career covering 66 years.

Barrie will be much missed by his many friends and especially by his dear wife Pat, who sadly has suffered dementia and been in a care home now for many years, and his eldest daughter Mandy, who used to work in the shop, and was one of the foreign language commentators at the Road Racing British GP before emigrating to Australia many years ago.

Rest In Peace my friend, I will miss you – DON MORLEY