A family is remembering Harley Barnard, a successful Suffolk businessman who inspired loyalty in his many friends and colleagues.
“Dad was very personable, but very private,” said his son, Paul.
“He wouldn't be the person that walks into a room and was suddenly the joker of the party, but he had many lifelong friends.
“He was intensely loyal to them, and they were to him.”
Harley Barnard was born in Stowmarket on June 11, 1945. He was the eldest child of Jack and Barbara Barnard, with younger siblings Philip and Ann arriving soon after.
Harley’s was a happy childhood. He attended Framlingham College before leaving school at 16 and moving to Luton, where he started his working life at Vauxhall motor company.
Harley remained here for a short time completing an apprenticeship, doing manual work on the vehicles at the factory.
After three years, however, he was ready to return to Suffolk and start work at the family motor dealership business, O. G. Barnard and Sons as it was then known.
This marked the beginning of a long and successful career.
The family business meant a great deal to Harley. He was the third generation of Barnards to work in the business, which had been established by his grandfather, Oliver Barnard, in 1909.
“Dad was in the car business during the 60s. In the early 70s, he moved to the haulage and logistics side of the business, Taylor Barnard Ltd, which was based at Mendlesham airfield,” explained Paul.
“Around 1970, Dad went to work as a warehouse manager in the depot in Felixstowe.”
Around this time, Harley had also married and become a father. His first child, Ross, was born in 1971. A daughter, Clare, followed in 1973, with Paul born in 1978.
Paul remembers a happy childhood in Stonham Aspal.
“It was an idyllic place to grow up. It was away from the towns, but it was near to Taylor Barnard’s Head Office at Mendlesham airfield, which was important to him.
“We all enjoyed being out in the country. It was very much a family home.”
Harley continued to operate Taylor Barnard for the next 30 years, and the business flourished under his leadership.
When Harley made the decision to sell the business in 2000, it had become the largest private logistics company in the UK.
The company retained its motor dealerships, and now operates under the name of Marriott Motor Group.
At this point in his life, Harley had made the decision to move to Portugal. Having relocated to Lisbon, he remarried and his youngest child, Michael, was born in 2003.
However, Harley was not ready to let go of the business just yet.
“The focus of his life was the business, and the joy he got from it,” said Paul.
“He was still very much involved. He would return to the UK perhaps four or five times a year to begin with.”
Harley remained chairman of Marriott Motor Group until he died.
“Dad was a very successful businessman,” said Paul. “He formed strong relationships with people he worked with both within the business itself, and the professional partners it used.
“People like architects, who would have managed the design and build of our warehouses and car dealerships.
“He had very long-standing relationships with professional partners.
“He formed strong bonds with people, and retained them throughout his life.”
Harley Barnard died last week.
He is survived by his wife, his four children, and seven grandchildren.
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