To Becky & James
So sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. Our children attended Whiteheath School and we always felt privileged that they’d had such a good grounding from Barry and his staff. Also, being a fellow northerner and NUFC supporter it was great to have a live of the north drilled into them at school as well as at home!
He was a very special man and our thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Great memories of Barry, as a parent and also working with Barry. Barry made working at Whiteheath a pleasure and a privilege. Happy memories. An inspiration to my girls achieving their goals in life through school and through sport.

Such a sad occasion for a very inspirational and influential man.
Kind hearted, funny and a great teacher and headteacher who was very much respected by all. Sending you all lots of love at this difficult time. Xx

To work with Barry was truly a privilage. He always had time for his staff and loved a chat mainly about football - or cricket of which I knew nothing about. Practising his bowling during break time in the staff room with lots of screwed up scrap paper, then leaving room with paper everywhere and smile of his face. A great man to work with and a fantastic teacher for my daughter. There aren’t any words that can possibly explain how you must be feeling and we send our love and thoughts to you all at this sad time x x x

Two of our boys attended Whiteheath School. Both were and still are football fanatics and were delighted to have a head who shared that passion. Barry was a lovely man and during our time associated with the school we quickly realised he was loved and respected by all who worked with him, were taught and led by him and parents alike. He created a real family atmosphere at the school. A rarity and when we moved away to Worcestershire it was and still is something we have not found in any other school. We send out our heartfelt sympathy to you at this very sad time. I hope the messages and memories give you comfort. May Barry rest in peace in the site knowledge that he was loved and will be missed by so many.

Dear Becky, James & family
We are so sorry to hear about your Dads passing. He was our headmaster at Whiteheath and we all have very fond memories of him. Thinking of you all at this sad time. Xx

I was very sad to hear of the tragic death of Barry .My thoughts are with the family.
My deepest sympathy
Wendy Rennoldson

The MacFarlane family sends heartfelt condolences to Barry’s family.
He was a passionate Head at Whiteheath and was respected and admired by so many children and parents. His passion for sport (particularly sport at Whiteheath) is legendary. We are grateful for all he did for our children.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Helen and Barry's family at this difficult time. We were so sad to hear about his passing. Barry was such a character in our dance group and we will keep happy memories. He will be greatly missed. With love. Martine and Keith xxx

RIP Barry

Such a sad occasion
You will always be remembered for your smile , & your care & kindness to Christopher
Always remembered 💖💖
RIP now Barry 💖💖
Betty & Christopher Fabb

I moved to Ruislip with my family in 2001 and weeks later started at Whiteheath Junior in Year 4 (Mr. Moran's class). Mr Harmer met with me and my Dad before term started and warmly welcomed me to the school with his gentle humour and kindness -- something that I would get to know well over the next few years. He was well-loved by all my peers, and I know that very special memories of him will continue to endure in the minds of those who knew him. Growing up in the early 2000s and having the chance to attend a school like Whiteheath now feels like a rare privilege, and it is something I look back on frequently with fondness. I wish Mr Harmer's family my very deepest condolences, and I hope they find some measure of solace in knowing what a deeply respected, kind and thoughtful man he was to all those in his care, students and teachers alike. May he rest in peace. 🕊️

Dear Rebecca and James, I was so sad to hear about your loss of your Dad. It was a long time since I’d seen Barry, but I remember him well as a fellow Newcastle United devotee and used to really enjoy his company. He was a lovely, gentle soul. My thoughts are with you and the whole family at this most difficult time. I wish you all the best every strength.

Barry was the first Headteacher I worked for as a Newly Qualified Teacher, leaving home from the North to live in London. Barry really cared about his staff and created the most amazing family atmosphere at Whiteheath Juniors. He and I shared a passion for sport and were regularly supporting children at various competitions to achieve their own sporting success. There was always plenty of banter, usually on a Monday after the weekend's football fixtures. I remember Barry bowling scrunched up bits of paper down the corridors and shouting catch when you least expected it! Even now, when I see a scone, I hear his voice telling me that I was the only one on the staff who pronounced scone correctly - the Northern way!
Barry was an inspirational Headteacher and I am forever grateful for the start he gave me in my Teaching Career.

Rest in peace Barry.

My most heartfelt condolences to all of Barry’s family. I was totally shocked and saddened to hear of his passing - a true tragedy.
Barry was my first Headteacher when I started teaching all those years ago and he welcomed me into the Whitheath family with the same enthusiasm and humour that we all came to expect from him throughout our time there. He believed in me and encouraged me with all the mad ideas I took to him - including the crowing glory in his Harmer Sports hall: the 2012 Olympic mural.
He was the head not only of the school but of our family and I will remember my time there and with him at the helm with fondness and warmth. He was what made Whiteheath what it was and I will forever miss him.
All my love to all whose lives he also touched so deeply.
Louise (Iacovides) Goss xx

A lovely ,kind hearted, funny man, my children have the fondest memories at their time at Whiteheath , mostly about the ribbing he got when Newcastle lost , or the joy and ribbing he gave back when they won. To untying my daughter from a lampost on her first day! My children's words 'The legend '
Sending love at this time
Sending love at this difficult time

Sending our sympathy to Mrs Harmer and family .We will miss Mr Harmer smile, and his tales of travels , and love of cricket.
Hill Avenue Dental team

We were so terribly sad to hear of Barry’s passing & send heartfelt condolences to you all.
Barry was truly one of a kind; passionate & inspirational, respected and admired by so many.
I had the pleasure of working alongside Barry for 10 years on the Governing Body & Tony has fond memories of trips to Scarborough & the Isle of Wight with Barry whilst our children Ashleigh & Lewis were pupils at the school.
Barry inspired & encouraged them to always be the best that they could be. Our children thrived & loved their time at Whiteheath.
We are sure you must be so proud of the love & admiration shown for Barry & hope you find solace in the words others have written here.
Bev & Tony Heeran

I was so sad to hear of Barry's death. I first met Barry some thirty years ago but really got to know him well in 2005 when we were part of a group of Hillingdon headteachers attending a conference in Thailand. We became firm friends. He introduced me to Chris Drake, another headteacher colleague and from then on we tended to stick together. At headteacher meetings etc. If they proved boring, the three of us would slide off to the nearest pub and instead argue the merits, or otherwise, of football, cricket and rugby union. He would always correct our Southern pronunciation of Newcastle and then expound the merits of Newcastle United.
After retirement the three of us went on trips together including Berlin, Krakow, Dublin and Jersey.
We would meet up regularly in Uxbridge for a few pints and a curry after which he would crash out at our house before sliding off in the morning.
We last got together before Christmas when the three of us met up in the Three Tuns in Uxbridge.
He seemed very much his usual self.
Chris and I will be at the funeral to pay respects and to say farewell to a great friend whose death is a tragedy beyond words.
Barry was a very fine man

Our thoughts are with you all in this difficult time. We have fond memories of your dad from growing up together x
Sending lots of hugs & love x

We were so sad to hear the news about Mr. Harmer.
He was headmaster to my 3 children at Whiteheath school.
We all look at those years with such fondness. He was such an inspiration, so proud of all the children and what they achieved, especially with his sports teams.
We loved the football banter we had with him, us being Chelsea and him a huge Newcastle fan.
He always had a huge smile on his face, and always made time for a chat.
Sending love and best wishes to his family at this sad time. We will never forget him xx

Barry was such a special Headteacher and the first Head I worked for as an NQT. It felt as though I was joining a work family from the moment I started at Whiteheath Juniors. He cared so much about everyone and managed to create a relaxed and productive atmosphere where everyone’s ideas were valued.
I have such fond memories of Barry batting balls of scrap paper around the staff room or sometimes just batting thin air!
He was a true inspiration for me starting out on my teaching career, so much so that I stayed teaching at Whiteheath until Barry’s retirement.
May you rest in peace Barry x

Barry was a good friend who I enjoyed being beaten by every time we played golf or bowls. His funeral this afternoon showed how many people have been touched by his humour and kindness. My thoughts are with his family who showed so much dignity and courage this afternoon.

Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Barry was a absolutely amazing Headteacher to both of my children.
Luke loved his Friday morning cricket sessions with Barry. I am sure Barry played a huge part in Luke still playing cricket today.
Luke last saw Barry at Lords Cricket ground where they have a lovely chat.
Zoe is now a teacher and I know Barry inspired her too. X

Mr Harmer was my head teacher at Whiteheath. He was a man who I looked up to for so much. I'll always remember when he took his time with me, one to one for cricket when I'd been unwell on the day of the trials for the team the day before. We played cricket in the school hall just the two of us for about an hour before realising that I should probably go back to class.
I saw him at Lord's about 2 years after I left whiteheath and he remembered me, by name and what secondary school I'd gone to. He asked me how I was doing and said if I ever needed anything, to give the school a ring.
Such a great man and will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace Sir

As a student of Barry’s many years ago, I was heartbroken to hear the news.
Barry was one of the kindest men, very funny with time for everyone. I used to go back to Whiteheath after leaving the school just to visit and was always met with a smile and a chat!
Thinking of all of your family and loved ones.
Sleep tight Mr Harmer.
Thank you for being such a key part of my childhood x

Mr Harmer was a legend! An amazing leader at Whiteheath encouraging sportsmanship and healthy competition. My children thrived at Whiteheath and it was down to Mr Harmer’s passion for sports. Cross country, inter-school athletics, football, netball, indoor athletics and more, he was inspiring and the children were proud to represent Whiteheath and Mr Harmer. The football anecdotes were always a topic of conversation after any event! My family all send our condolences to the family.

Attending Whiteheath School as a student whilst Mr Harmer was Head Teacher was an absolute joy. His dedication and commitment to the school and its students shone a leading light on Primary Education. Thank you for all you did in supporting our family with your hard work and kindness.

The Cousins Family x

I am so sorry to hear of Mr Harmer's passing. He was an excellent headteacher to my children. My sincere condolences. May he rest in perfect peace.

We were shocked to hear of the passing of Mr Harmer. Our 3 children benefited immensely from their 4 years at Whiteheath Junior School. I had the privilege to serve as a parent governor for 7 years under Mr Harmer's great leadership of the school, which he run perfectly. I've never seen a better run school and a better headmaster than Mr Harmer. He ensured the school was run to the highest standards, while not overspending, which is almost magic. The country needs more headmasters like him! He will be greatly missed.

I was so saddened to hear that Barry had passed away. I have fond memories of my time teaching at Whiteheath. He was a wonderful headteacher and we all adored him. I felt privileged to be invited back to attend his retirement do. Thinking of his family at this difficult time.

I know it has been a few months now but it’s never too late to show how much appreciation I have for Mr Harmer. He was my HT at Whiteheath in the early-mid 90’s and he is someone I have never forgotten. Even years later (in my late 20’s) I went back to Whiteheath to see him and he remembered me and we had a good chat. I was in touch with him for several years. He got me into sports, not just as a spectator but encouraged me to participate and to this day I still play football and cricket and it was all because of him.
He played a huge part in my childhood and I am so grateful to have had some a wonderful headteacher. He knew how to have fun, make us smile but he also kept us disciplined. I remember when I left year 6 and he said to me that everything I have learned will put me in good stead going into secondary school!
RIP Barry, will never be forgotten.

I am so sorry to hear about Mr Harmer. I was a pupil at Whiteheath Junior School from 2003 - 2007 and look back on my time there with so much fondness. I remember him vividly and his infectious passion for sports, he made the school such a special place. I would like to thank him for the wonderful childhood memories. My thoughts are with you all, may he rest in peace.