A local champion
Ernest Barry was a local man and an extremely good rower. He won the Dogget Coat and Badge in 1903.

Sculling Champion
He also competed in the World Professional sculling championship which took place on the Zambesi river in Africa but unfortunately he didn’t win (sculling is another name for rowing). He did however win the same championship when it was held on the River Thames in 1912. In fact he won the title every year for five years. Then he lost and then finally won again in Australia in 1920.

Ernest Barry in 1950.

Royal Bargemaster
In 1950 Ernest Barry became Royal Bargemaster first to King George VI and then to Queen Elizabeth II.

Lifelong resident
Ernest and Lotte Barry had five children. They lived in Bonser Road Twickenham. Ernest died in 1968 aged about 86.

Barry with colleagues on his appointment as Royal Barge Master in 1950.