The following obituary, by Rebecca Whittaker, was published in the Oxford Mail on 27 October 2021.

Barrie Pain, 97, a Wallingford resident of some 40 years, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

He was actively involved on many Wallingford-based committees well into his 90s and was still President of the Theatre Club at his death. He was a Trustee of the Corn Exchange and Sinodun Players and was often found ushering at many an event. He was involved with the Talking Newspaper and the Wallingford Carnival committee for many years.

Barrie was born in Kent and gained a scholarship to Tonbridge School. World War II broke out when he was 15, so he volunteered to collect scrap metal and tin for the war effort. At 16 he helped the Home Guard with armed sentry posts overnight.

He gained a place at Magdalene College, Cambridge to read Engineering, before joining the Royal Engineers after one year with a view to returning after the war. He was gazetted Lieutenant and was promptly posted ‘overseas’, finding himself on a ship bound for India, where he was drafted to the Royal BombaySappers and Miners to train for fighting in Malaysia and to take part in the planned invasion of Japan.

After the war, he went on to be one of the pioneers of the automotive industry. He was one of the first managers at the new Ford Motor Company plant at Dagenham. He went in to work between Ford and British Leyland at Cowley, then Rover Triumph at Longbridge, finally returning to Cowley as a Director of Jaguar Rover Triumph at board level. He was especially proud to have designed the very first electro-coat painting system on a production line in the world at the new Ford plant at Halewood in the 1960s and this system is still used on cars today.

After retirement his beloved wife Daphne, 59, died after 38 years of marriage. A few years later he married teacher, Edith Addis. Together they continued to support local committees and clubs and were married for 32 years.

Barrie was a keen sportsman throughout his life, He played in the first 15 at the local rugby club and enjoying sailing , swimming and surfing into his 90s.

His family say he will be sadly missed by his widow, Edith, two children and two stepchildren plus eight grandchildren.

The family would welcome donations for the Sue Ryder Palliative Care team, to whom they are greatly indebted for their wonderful care of Barrie. They also are grateful to Dr Henry at the Wallingford Medical Centre and the District Nurses team for their care. Donations can be made via Howard Chadwick Funeral Directors.
(SH 38-41)