The Army Headquarters community in Andover, Hampshire has come together to bid a fond farewell to one of its longest standing colleagues who retires today (4 July).
Barry conducted his last training session at Army HQ Andover before retiring.
Barry conducted his last training session at Army HQ Andover before retiring.
Barry was presented by a framed Army Headquarters flag in recognition of his service.
Barry demonstrates some of the exercises through the circuit.
Physical training instructor (PTI) Barry Atkins has racked up an incredible 57 years of service in the Ministry of Defence and, at the age of 79, signed off with his final circuit training session putting soldiers, some a quarter of his age, through their paces.
Barry, who lives in Perham Down, Wiltshire, puts his longevity of service down to two things, his love of the job and love for his mother who saved him from an infant death. He said: “I have stayed in because I have enjoyed the job so much.”
Barry’s drive and determination is down to his mother. He was born with gastric intestinal complications shortly after the end of World War Two. In this pre-National Health Service era, Barry was sent home with his mother to die. His mum nursed and fed him with watered down cow’s milk and, somehow, he managed to survive, saying “I owed it to her to keep going because she gave me that chance.”
It was back in 1964, the year The Beatles took the USA by storm and BBC 2 was launched, that an 18-year-old Barry signed up to join the Royal Signals as a radio relay operator. Unable to pursue his chosen trade, he decided to go into the gym to train as a PTI where he stayed for a further five years. Using his new-found skills, Barry then left the Army and worked for a few years in a women’s mental health hospital.
But it was not long before Barry was back in uniform and this time it was Royal Air Force blue. Coming across an advert offering opportunities for physical training instructors, he successfully applied and spent the next 17 years as a Royal Air Force PTI.
During his time in the RAF, Barry transferred across to adventurous training and, having led and been part of expeditions in Wales, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Norway and Italy’s Dolomites, he became an instructor at the RAF’s adventurous training centre of excellence at Llanrwst in north Wales.
Barry finally hung up his uniform in 1990, but that was not the end of his gym life. He moved from the military to become a civilian PTI at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire before his passion for physical fitness and his ability to inspire others led to his appointment in 2000 as gym manager at the Defence Logistics Organisation in Andover which later became the Army’s Headquarters.
Over the years, Barry has organised numerous functions, established regular fitness sessions, and developed innovative training programmes that have had a lasting impact on thousands of military and civilian staff.
He received a Commendation from the Chief of the General Staff of the British Army in the recent King’s Birthday Honours List 2025.
Barry’s final circuit training session was emotionally charged as many friends and colleagues from down the years came for one last press-up.
At the end of the session, Colonel John Dagless, Army HQ, addressed Barry and his wife, Janet, while the class looked on.
Colonel Dagless said: “Barry, over the last decade, I have observed you to be the epitome of a servant leader. A leader who shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.
“One of the things we often say so many times is, ‘I hope I’m half as active and as fit as Barry is at 79.
“As we thank you for your decades of delivery, I would also like to thank Janet, for your support to Barry, and wish you all the very best as you start your next chapter together.”
Barry was presented with a framed Army Headquarters flag while his wife, Janet, received a huge bouquet of flowers.
