Obituary: Ken Barker

Members at Heywood Cricket Club are mourning the passing of benefactor Ken Barker at the age of 82 after a long illness. 

Ken, who had no known surviving family, was a member at Crimble for around 70 years and financed the purchase of the electronic scoreboard at the ground in 2008.

He was brought up in Ashworth Street in Heywood, went to Magdala Street Primary School and then Heywood Grammar School.

Ken was a keen sports follower and played football for Heywood Grammar School Old Boys. He also supported Bury Football Club for most of his life and was a life member of Lancashire Cricket Club.

In his professional capacity he qualified as a pharmacist at Manchester University and worked at Crumpsall Hospital.

He moved to Colwyn Bay with his parents in the early 1960s and, when he later gained employment at a chemist’s shop in the Stockport area, lived in a flat in Heaton Mersey for a while to be nearer his work.

But he kept the Colwyn Bay home, where he returned full time on his early retirement, despite the premature death of his father and more recently his mother.

Despite not living in Heywood for many years he would often make visits from his North Wales base back to his beloved Crimble to support the club which had given him so much pleasure.

His heath started to deteriorate in the early part of this year and, after a spell in hospital, he moved to a rest home in Deganwy.

The funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed.