Wooden Spoon - Spoonews article
Wooden Spoon is rugby union's official charity dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children. The following article will appear in the December edition of Spoonews, Wooden Spoon's quarterly magazine.
BARRY WILLIAMS
All organisations have them, Spoon more than most. They are the rocks on which success is built; the hard-working, decent folk who give of their time and energy often without much, if any, recognition. In short, they are the unsung heroes. Barry Williams, an integral part of The President’s Ball held every year at The Hilton in London, is one of them. He is also, by all accounts, an irresistibly funny man.
With a surname like Williams and hailing from the soft-forested hills of mid-Wales, just across the Herefordshire border (near the beautiful Elan valley) I half-expect a rich, lilting Welsh accent, a la Richard Burton, to resonate down the phone line. Instead, it turns out that Barry was born in London but moved at only a few weeks of age to Croydon where his father, a policeman, was stationed. He was educated locally and, at the age of 16, went to work in a local department store. By his own admission, he was not there long.
“When a lady came in to buy a tin opener, she would often leave with the tin opener, a full set of saucepans and a canteen of cutlery!” Although engaged as a salesman he was asked to rein in his selling instincts. It was a time when service to the customer was king, when every shopper was referred to as “Sir” or “Madam” and actually selling something came as an afterthought. Such limitations did not fit well with our Mr Williams.
He moved to a company that would better appreciate his selling instincts – Waterlows – and sold computer stationary. He sold it in vast quantities and yet all was still not well. “I’d sell 10 units but, at the age of 20, I was still earning half the wage of my 45 year old colleague who only sold 4 units. I was equally peeved that I got a basic Escort to drive around in and he got a top of the range Cortina!”
His life changed one night in 1974 when he organised an old-fashioned stag show at Woodmansterne FC in Surrey only for the comedian not to turn up. It was the days long before the mobile phone. The compere hot-footed it to a phone box in the street but before he did so he “asked the audience” if anyone fancied doing a ten minute slot. As the club’s unofficial jester Barry was volunteered and pushed up on to the stage like some sacrificial offering. The compere returned – having discovered that the comedian had been involved in a car accident – to find Barry being barracked relentlessly by his mates but holding his own with lightning quick ad-libs.
“After the show, the compere took me to one side and asked me if I could tell a joke. He said I could already ad-lib with the best in the business. I told him I could, if given the chance, and he invited me to do a guest slot on a show. It paid £4 for ten minutes when I was earning about £12 a week. I loved it.”
Within four months Barry had a jammed diary and the sales world lost one of its forces of nature. He has been full-time ever since. His career has seen him pay appearance fees (of as little as £10 in the early days) to the likes of Jim Davidson and Michael Barrymore in shows he has compered. His love of theatre has seen him tour with The Searchers, The Three Degrees, Leo Sayer, Tommy Cooper and Cilla Black. He has twice been voted Comedian of the Year.
In 1984, a new workplace emerged that would, in time, become the after-dinner circuit. Barry burnt the candle at both ends for two years but, in 1986, he left show business and became a full-time after dinner speaker. At the same time, he moved with his wife, Jenny, and their three children to mid-Wales. Over the years they have built up an extensive menagerie, keeping 40-50 chickens, four dogs, eight parrots and five cats. “My wife also has a pet owl which free-flies in the kitchen while the pool serves as our koi pond and has over 100 specimens in it. We have been known to take a dip in it with them in the height of summer!”
At the start of the 1990s, Barry first made contact with Spoon when he was invited to speak at The President’s Ball at The Hilton. He was the first entertainer ever to be asked back for a second year, and then a third. In fact, he has been back every year since. Over time, his role has evolved and he now comperes the show. Needless to say, he has many highlights.
“My favourite has to be Peter Scott, trussed up by his wedding tackle, and flown under The Hilton ballroom ceiling, before descending, like Superman, to address the gathering. It was a fantastic piece of apparatus and I believe Peter keeps it in his bedroom to this day!”
Barry has become great friends with the chief executive chef at The Hilton – Anthony Marshall – who has performed in a cameo roll at many of the recent balls. “My favourite was his rendition of The Full Monty although Spoon did miss a golden opportunity. They could have sold binoculars to the ladies at any price whatsoever!” He notes that the esteemed chef and his team only ever perform in this way at The President’s Ball. “They are among Spoon’s very best supporters.”
He describes the amazing scenes at The Hilton as being surpassed only by the will of the audience to enjoy themselves and give generously. “The auctions are remarkable. I remember an executive from Renault buying a cuddly African lion for £5,000 but I do wonder whether it is a coincidence that we have not seen him since!”
Barry’s involvement with Spoon means that he has come to know some of the key personalities. He cannot speak highly enough of Peter Scott. “He must take great pride in that the fact what he started almost nonchalantly with four chums has grown in to this blue chip charity organisation.” He has warm words also for the current chief executive, Geoff Morris. “He is bringing another dimension to Spoon and works tirelessly in the corporate sector to expand the charity’s income.” He describes Tony Richards as “the perfect foil for Geoff” and also singles out Mike and Sandra Eland as “another pair of unsung heroes.”
But it is the work that Spoon does that which means most to him. “Almost 100% of the funds generated go to the causes intended. That is something a lot of other charities could learn from. For me though the great thing is to see the look on the kids faces, their wonderment. That’s something money simply cannot buy.”
Barry Williams, unsung hero and genuinely nice guy.
BARRY WILLIAMS
All organisations have them, Spoon more than most. They are the rocks on which success is built; the hard-working, decent folk who give of their time and energy often without much, if any, recognition. In short, they are the unsung heroes. Barry Williams, an integral part of The President’s Ball held every year at The Hilton in London, is one of them. He is also, by all accounts, an irresistibly funny man.
With a surname like Williams and hailing from the soft-forested hills of mid-Wales, just across the Herefordshire border (near the beautiful Elan valley) I half-expect a rich, lilting Welsh accent, a la Richard Burton, to resonate down the phone line. Instead, it turns out that Barry was born in London but moved at only a few weeks of age to Croydon where his father, a policeman, was stationed. He was educated locally and, at the age of 16, went to work in a local department store. By his own admission, he was not there long.
“When a lady came in to buy a tin opener, she would often leave with the tin opener, a full set of saucepans and a canteen of cutlery!” Although engaged as a salesman he was asked to rein in his selling instincts. It was a time when service to the customer was king, when every shopper was referred to as “Sir” or “Madam” and actually selling something came as an afterthought. Such limitations did not fit well with our Mr Williams.
He moved to a company that would better appreciate his selling instincts – Waterlows – and sold computer stationary. He sold it in vast quantities and yet all was still not well. “I’d sell 10 units but, at the age of 20, I was still earning half the wage of my 45 year old colleague who only sold 4 units. I was equally peeved that I got a basic Escort to drive around in and he got a top of the range Cortina!”
His life changed one night in 1974 when he organised an old-fashioned stag show at Woodmansterne FC in Surrey only for the comedian not to turn up. It was the days long before the mobile phone. The compere hot-footed it to a phone box in the street but before he did so he “asked the audience” if anyone fancied doing a ten minute slot. As the club’s unofficial jester Barry was volunteered and pushed up on to the stage like some sacrificial offering. The compere returned – having discovered that the comedian had been involved in a car accident – to find Barry being barracked relentlessly by his mates but holding his own with lightning quick ad-libs.
“After the show, the compere took me to one side and asked me if I could tell a joke. He said I could already ad-lib with the best in the business. I told him I could, if given the chance, and he invited me to do a guest slot on a show. It paid £4 for ten minutes when I was earning about £12 a week. I loved it.”
Within four months Barry had a jammed diary and the sales world lost one of its forces of nature. He has been full-time ever since. His career has seen him pay appearance fees (of as little as £10 in the early days) to the likes of Jim Davidson and Michael Barrymore in shows he has compered. His love of theatre has seen him tour with The Searchers, The Three Degrees, Leo Sayer, Tommy Cooper and Cilla Black. He has twice been voted Comedian of the Year.
In 1984, a new workplace emerged that would, in time, become the after-dinner circuit. Barry burnt the candle at both ends for two years but, in 1986, he left show business and became a full-time after dinner speaker. At the same time, he moved with his wife, Jenny, and their three children to mid-Wales. Over the years they have built up an extensive menagerie, keeping 40-50 chickens, four dogs, eight parrots and five cats. “My wife also has a pet owl which free-flies in the kitchen while the pool serves as our koi pond and has over 100 specimens in it. We have been known to take a dip in it with them in the height of summer!”
At the start of the 1990s, Barry first made contact with Spoon when he was invited to speak at The President’s Ball at The Hilton. He was the first entertainer ever to be asked back for a second year, and then a third. In fact, he has been back every year since. Over time, his role has evolved and he now comperes the show. Needless to say, he has many highlights.
“My favourite has to be Peter Scott, trussed up by his wedding tackle, and flown under The Hilton ballroom ceiling, before descending, like Superman, to address the gathering. It was a fantastic piece of apparatus and I believe Peter keeps it in his bedroom to this day!”
Barry has become great friends with the chief executive chef at The Hilton – Anthony Marshall – who has performed in a cameo roll at many of the recent balls. “My favourite was his rendition of The Full Monty although Spoon did miss a golden opportunity. They could have sold binoculars to the ladies at any price whatsoever!” He notes that the esteemed chef and his team only ever perform in this way at The President’s Ball. “They are among Spoon’s very best supporters.”
He describes the amazing scenes at The Hilton as being surpassed only by the will of the audience to enjoy themselves and give generously. “The auctions are remarkable. I remember an executive from Renault buying a cuddly African lion for £5,000 but I do wonder whether it is a coincidence that we have not seen him since!”
Barry’s involvement with Spoon means that he has come to know some of the key personalities. He cannot speak highly enough of Peter Scott. “He must take great pride in that the fact what he started almost nonchalantly with four chums has grown in to this blue chip charity organisation.” He has warm words also for the current chief executive, Geoff Morris. “He is bringing another dimension to Spoon and works tirelessly in the corporate sector to expand the charity’s income.” He describes Tony Richards as “the perfect foil for Geoff” and also singles out Mike and Sandra Eland as “another pair of unsung heroes.”
But it is the work that Spoon does that which means most to him. “Almost 100% of the funds generated go to the causes intended. That is something a lot of other charities could learn from. For me though the great thing is to see the look on the kids faces, their wonderment. That’s something money simply cannot buy.”
Barry Williams, unsung hero and genuinely nice guy.
posted by Andy at 7:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home