Barney Bardsley

1989 Barney Bardsley & Guy Collins

After my glorious return to Newbury from France in the winter of 1987, where I had discovered street performance and started juggling. I discovered that there were jugglers in my local area and they even had a club! Every Thursday we would all meet up at Bucklebury Village Hall at 7.30 pm and juggle for two hours and then head for the pub! The organiser was the man pictured with the young me above, the legend that is Barney Bardsley.

Barney was a thatcher by trade and was also very into folk music, so it was no surprise he had discovered juggling at Glastonbury Festival, where he was shown how to juggle three balls by the also legendary Haggis and Chips (Haggis Mcleod and Charley Dancey), who were a big influence upon myself and a whole generation of British jugglers. The Bucklebury juggling club had a bout 15 regular members and this number often swelled to 20 to 30 people all throwing stuff around and at each other. It was a really magical time, we were all so enthusiastic and excited about our new thing. Club passing was where the action was, and I really enjoyed passing with Barney, his throws were always solid and far more reliable, much more consistent than mine were! We were soon doing feeds (three people juggling) and crosses (four people juggling) and even drop backs, which is when someone (or two) throws behind themselves and the person behind them throws over their head, you have to see it really!

Barney had some offers for the juggling club to perform at some local village fetes and a group of us performed as "Barney Bardsley's Bouncing, Bucklebury balls" which is definitely a name to be remembered. The picture of the two of us above comes from the Newbury Weekley News, we are juggling at Hermitage Village Fete in 1989.

I started getting more gigs as a juggler, but it wasn't enough to support myself fully on. During this time, when I was just starting out, Barney took me on as his labourer. It really helped me pay the bills. He later confessed to me that I was the worst labourer they had ever had. But he did like my juggling and encouraged me at every opportunity. Without Barney's influence, I would not be the juggler I am Today, not even close.

I always admired his presence, strength and depth of character. He was also a very calming influence. Always ready to do the hard work when required. A man I am so very thankful to know.

We had a couple of pints and a juggle a couple of weeks ago in a pub in Berkshire. It was really quite lovely.