RIP Barry Mason

Blimey, what a shock. I hardly new him really, only from his tireless organising of DD's over the years and of course for being such a dynamo working for Southwark Cyclists and cyling in general around London.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family.
RIP Barry

A huge loss. Barry RIP.

RIP. Thoughts are with the nearest and dearest.

Very sad to hear, I only him met once but he made a lasting impression. RIP

I remember going along to a community council meeting in Rotherhithe in February 2010 - for a job that I was starting in the local area - and I sat next to an extremely vivacious chap, who was charming and irreverent in equal measure and to whom I instantly warmed. This chap turned out to be Barry Mason.

Over the past year, I have got to know Barry better through work projects and through various cycling escapades. I frequently found myself being a bit bewildered, amused and impressed by his often blunt and direct way of being and talking, mixed together with a very genuine sense of warmth and love ; a smile was never far away from a scowl and he always seemed to be teetering on the edge of mischief of one kind or another.

Barry was dedicated, funny, committed, caring and surprising. I went to the farm a month or so ago and he marched me straight down to the goat pen and handed me a tiny baby kid to hold. He made witty, dry comments whilst I gushed over this little warm scrap of life who had been abandoned by his mother, but it was Barry who looked over this little one every day; making sure it was loved, cared for and nourished in the way it should be. The farm is buzzing and lively, full of new life and fresh energy and his work there seems to have been completely transformative.

He was someone that made things happen and all the comments here and on other forums and sites are testament to the amount he has achieved and the lives he has touched. I was so very sad when I found out about his death and it seems very hard to believe that someone who was so totally full of life and health should no longer be here.

He was a brilliant, bright man and I was looking forward to doing the Dunwich Dynamo with him for the first time in July. Now, I shall be doing it in his memory, as am sure will many others.

My thoughts are with his family and will also rest on his uncompromising, focused and clear sighted approach to life, work and bikes.

Thank you Barry. It was a pleasure knowing you and goodbye

Marigold x x x x x x x

Really really sad. An absolute legend.
R.I.P.

A terrible and untimely loss.

Every day, I ride through somewhere that has been improved by input from Barry. His dedication, understanding and unfailing energy were astonishing to witness.

I recall him saying with pride that an insider at either TfL or Southwark Council - I forget which - described him as a terrier, who got his teeth into an issue and just wouldn't let go. That persistence where others might have written one letter and just given up when rebuffed is what really made a difference for all of us, and I wish I had his resilience.

Not just in cycling, but in envirnmental issues generally, he was a source of ideas, inspiration and, most of all, action.

The best tribute to Barry would be to keep riding. And nothing less would do.

Amen to the spot on tributes you've all posted, see you on the Barry ride for sure
R.I.P.

trying not to read these tributes at work as they are making me cry, but they are lovely. alex x

RIP Barry - looks like he was truly a progressive voice for cycling, and someone who made things happen.

To echo what other people have been saying, we should do his legacy justice by riding more, and spreading the word. I'll keep me eyes peeled for the memorial ride.

I heard about this yesterday and could barely believe it. I can only echo the sentiments of others above - some lovely tributes.

I first met Barry when I was a complete newb to cycling, with no friends who cycled, and no one at work to turn to, I was a little bewildered. But his passion and enthusiasm for all things cycling was pretty inspirational. I later learnt that he was a also a fantastic campaigner, as many have noted. I think there is a lot we can learn from the way Barry got things done. He really was a tireless campaigner, who took on a lot in his spare time - pretty much thankless work on behalf of all london cyclists.

He also had a knowledge of London that few people possess. It's really quite hard to imagine no longer seeing him at cycling events.

I'll miss the stubborn bugger.

Thoughts go out to his family and close friends.

Sad news and my thoughts go out to family and friends...London is a lesser place without his presence

I'm sorry to hear about this - I met him on the Dynamo a few years back. Seemed like a really great geezer. RIP Barry.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/jun/06/barry-mason-cycling-campaigner

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23956741-tributes-to-cycling-campaigner-who-died-swimming-on-holiday-in-spain.do

Nice picture of Barry on his Harry Perry:

                                                                                                                                                                                      ![](http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/BarryMason_415.jpg)

Never met Barry, but he wrote this which made me need to do the DD and generally just sums up why its nice to go cycling:

http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/content/dunwich-dynamo

Oh hell. My second death in just over a week.

Midsummer ride will be an interesting experience without him. Thanks for everything Barry.

Barry was a man I knew quite well but to call him a close friend would be stretching things a bit but we would exchange greetings whenever we met having done many rides together in the past.

Thanks to Oliver Schick and others for confirming the news yesterday after I had got a phone call out of the blue with the shocking news.

Little else to add as so many people have already posted. I will simply say that he will be missed by me. His rides were always interesting and for me there was always the element of surprise as to whether we would get lunch at 11.30 or 15.30 which tested fellow riders a time or two. He definitely leaves a large hole in the London cycling scene.

http://www.selfs.org.uk/2011/06/06/ride-on-barry-mason/

RIP Barry, He was a great chap and will be missed by many.

A huge loss for cycling. Thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP Barry - an inspiration to us all.

http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/rip-barry-mason/

rest in peace barry, makes the cycle hire dynamo challenge even more worthwhile.

So so sad. An inspirational guy.

The breadth of Barry's positive influence would be impossible to sum up. In some direct or indirect he has surely helped strengthen the love of cycling that you or someone you know has.

I am incredibly sad to hear of his death.