IT is with great sadness that we report the death of the T&A’s long-serving motorcycle journalist and photographer Barry Robinson, who covered the sport with great distinction for this newspaper for over half a century.

Barry, of Ilkley, formerly Otley, passed away peacefully at Airedale General Hospital on February 26 at the age of 91, following a short illness.

Barry, an electrician by trade, began his journalistic career in 1957 with The Motor Cycle, going on to contribute to Motor Cycling, Motor Cycle News, Daily Telegraph, Telegraph and Argus (from 1969), York Evening Press, Trials and Motocross News, Californian Biker plus many others.

Barry was able to draw on his own experience of being an expert trials rider, scrambler and champion grass tracks sidecar passenger, while his close ties with two successful motorcycling families, the Lampkins and the Rathmells, only fuelled his enthusiasm further.

Barry has also been a speedway referee and an Ulster GP mechanic.

Paying tribute to their father, Barry’s daughters Liz and Sarah wrote: “His passion for all things bike related never waned.

“He was as committed to promoting the sport through his reporting on his last day as he was on his first 65 years ago, as he requested a notepad and pen from his hospital bed in case someone got in touch with results.

“He was a great supporter of youth and women’s trials and would often down tools if any rider needed help and would gladly offer advice (and a clean handkerchief) if asked.

“His wealth of knowledge was accompanied by a plethora of stories, and he enjoyed nothing better than sharing them.

“He will be missed.”

Barry’s funeral will take place later this week, on Thursday, March 23, from 12:30pm.

It is being held at Skipton Crematorium, with food and refreshments afterwards at Herriots Hotel on Broughton Road.

The hotel’s postcode is BD23 1RT.

The T&A’s former sports reporter Bill Marshall, who worked for us between 1980 and 2018, will represent the newspaper at Barry’s funeral service.