South Yorkshire Times May 5, 1951
Wathonian of Many Interests
50 Years’ Service in the Glass Industry’s
On May 6, Mr Wilfred R. Barker of 15 Fitzwilliam Ave, Wath-on-Dearne, joint managing director of Waterstone Glassware will have completed 50 years of distinguished service in the glass industry.
Mr. Barker began his career in the Industry at Wood Bros. Glass Co. Ltd., Hoyle Mill, Barnsley, in May 1901, as a warehouse clerk. He made rapid progress and year by year increased his knowledge of the technical details of the industry, this ship
Mr. Barker eventually became works manager at the Hoyle Mill Works and for many years he honourably filled this post until, in 1937, he resigned.
Later in that year Mr. Barker associated himself with the then new ‘ Waterstone Glassware Ltd. He became technical manager; now some 300 or more workpeople are engaged in this factory.
Mr. Barker’s particular interest is the compounding of the special materials or “batches,” which, when melted in the furnace produce the refined glassware now so well known, and which demands as a first requisite great technical experience.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Barker was elected to the original Council of the Glass Technology Society in 1916.
Mr. Barker has for many years, been a fellow of the Geological Society, and is a well known Northern geologist, and has served ears on the Council of the Yorkshire Geological Society. He has added considerably to the knowledge knowledge of our Coal Measure Flora and Fauna and much to its literature and his specialised knowledge has been of benefit to the National Coal Board, and to H.M. Geological Survey.
A number of fossil plants are named after him.
Archaeological Interests
For many years he has been a member of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, and his many lectures on this subject, and especially of the Roman occupation of this part of Yorkshire have been enjoyed by many audiences in Wath and South Yorkshire.
He has written on the “Mediaeval Glass of Monk Bretton Priory,” and also on the “Old Glass Houses of South Yorkshire.”
As a past president of the Barnsley Naturalists’ Society, and an energetic member for some 35 years, he had the opportunity to reveal his many-sided interests in natural history, and his talks and lectures during these many years show not only a profound knowledge, but a scholarly ability to make clear to his audiences the beauty, mystery and interest in such diverse subjects as geology, botany, Palaeobotany, archaeology, local history, ancient, mediaeval and modern glass, microscopy and philately in all of which he is a recognised past master.
On this occasion, the congratulations of his many friends will be extended to Mr Barker on the completion of his 50 years in the service of glass, and in the service of the sciences and “ologies” of which he is so excellent an exponent.