John Barker's Cremation and Wake

[AlonzoDrake]

Hi -- everyone. I'm posting the following on behalf of Neil Barker. Neil's dad, John Barker was one of Rovers' greatest fans and personally was also a valued and long-standing friend. I had known him from 1968, and in many subsequent football seasons he would attend every Rovers league and cup game, home or away. Many on this forum will recognise John.

John first visited Belle Vue in 1955, and gave his blind father, Alan Barker, a running commentary on what Peter Doherty's boys were doing that day. John was only 73, and left us far too soon. Going to the Rovers just won't be the same anymore.

The attached pics show John at Highbury in 2017, at Hull c. 2004, and in Tenerife in 2019. John was also a founder member of Fossils on Tour -- a group of Doncaster seniors who sought the sun every Feb. The attached pic shows the group's 10th anniversary tour of Tenerife.

For all those who knew John and would like to say farewell, his cremation will be held at the Rose Hill Crematorium on Thursday 12th January at 13:40. The Wake will take place at The Rec, on Balby Road. Everyone is welcome to both, and particularly those sporting Doncaster Rovers, Yorkshire CCC or Dons colors.

Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to RNIB or Guide Dogs UK charities in memory of John's father, and Neil's grandfather Alan Barker.

[Donnywolf]

Pencilled myself in. Just done 21 days in Fuerteventura and thought I had missed paying tribute to special Fan JB

Couldn't believe I sneaked on one of Photos ... the night JJ Price battered us at KCOM

[Campsall rover]

Thanks for the info AlonzoDrake.

Always had a chat with John at Scarborough every match Yorkshire played there probably for the last 15 years. Also usually bumped into him at Headingley.
Saw him at many away Rovers games over the years also.

Don’t claim to know him really well but he was top bloke, a fanatical Rovers and Yorks CCC fan and he will be sorely missed.

R.I.P John.

[Donnywolf]

Don't forget tomorrow folks

Straw poll .... Are most people going in Rovers shirts Coats etc

[tommy toes]

Ayup John.
I'm the handsome one on the fossils photo.That was a great holiday and JB was on top form. What a fine man he was.
I'll wear summat Rovers related.

[Donnywolf]

Don't worry I spotted you straight away

Can't believe that even at 53 I couldn't put my hat on straight in top photo 

[idler]

Ayup John.
I'm the handsome one on the fossils photo.That was a great holiday and JB was on top form. What a fine man he was.
I'll wear summat Rovers related.

You will have to give us a clue Tommy. I’m struggling to see the handsome one. I can’t even remember a face from Rockware either.

[drfchound]

Don't worry I spotted you straight away

Can't believe at 53 I couldn't put my hat on.straight lol

Is that a lad called Ken Taylor in the Rovers shirt Wolfie?

[tommy toes]

Second left idler. I had a full head of long blonde hair at Rockware.

[idler]

Were you there between 1971-74?
I was on sorting F,G,H in those days. Stuart was check sorter and Jim Smith and Les Barass ( both from Dunsville I think ) were Quality Control then. I was on B crew with Ralph Wade as Forman and Bill Travis.

[Donnywolf]

Second left idler. I had a full head of long blonde hair at Rockware.

Very nice it was too

[Bentley Bullet]

Dye your beard Wolfie and you wouldn't look much different now.

[Donnywolf]

Don't worry I spotted you straight away

Can't believe at 53 I couldn't put my hat on.straight lol

Is that a lad called Ken Taylor in the Rovers shirt Wolfie?

No ... That is JB himself. I know lots of others in Photos but will let them name themselves as they might not want to "come out" or not use VSC

I had 2 years in Rockware Offices with bloke at the extreme right of top photo and 4th left in bottom one

I then moved onto "hot end" where I teamed up with tommytoes but another year / 18 months or so and I left .

Too many visits from Clarkie when I had a lehr full. (Sorter speak lol)

[tommy toes]

I had more lehr fulls than you could shake a stick at Wolfie. I was useless.
Idler, I was on B crew mainly on B Station, from 1972 to 1980.

[Donnywolf]

Dye your beard Wolfie and you wouldn't look much different now.

Just got to remember to line Badge up with my snipe lol

[idler]

I had more lehr fulls than you could shake a stick at Wolfie. I was useless.
Idler, I was on B crew mainly on B Station, from 1972 to 1980.

I hated B station. 5 minutes on and 5 off as a sorter and handling baby food jars like bars of soap.
I much preferred being on the paste jars etc. where you could work back to the curtain and then have 40 minutes sat down until the table was full again. Happy days and over £100 a week possible with overtime.

[RedRover45]

It was a good turn out and a very moving ceremony