Tributes paid to former Northampton College principal Ron Barden

Tributes have been paid to former Principal of Northampton College, Ron Barden, who has died aged 95.

Ron served as Principal for almost 20 years, joining the College in 1976 and establishing himself as a much-respected leader in Further Education.

Under his leadership, the number of courses and apprenticeships offered by the college grew significantly, allowing more young people to benefit from expert vocational education. He also established closer relationships with local prisons, leading to his appointment to the Parole Board in 1985. By the time he retired, Northampton College was one of the largest outside metropolitan areas.

Among those to pay tribute to Mr Barden is former colleague Julie Teckman, who remains part of Northampton College team today. She said: “He was a charismatic man who could be stern, sharp, funny and kind, somehow all at the same time. It was rumoured that he had the timetables of all staff in his office and that, after greeting you cordially in a corridor, he would go back and check that you were where you were supposed to be!

“He knew his staff well and was always on top of what was going on under his watch. He had a wonderful sense of humour and a laugh that you couldn’t help joining in with and there was a twinkle in his eye even when he was being a bit terrifying to a new teacher like me. 

“After his retirement, it was always lovely to bump into him in the street or at university events where he maintained a keen interest in further and higher education, and he never failed to ask about my career and my family. He was a formidable and unforgettable man, and I’m proud to have started my career with him as my boss.”

Ron made a significant contribution to the development of education management training in Northamptonshire and the East Midlands and received an Honorary Award from the University of Northampton upon his retirement in 1995.

As a colleague, Ron was much-loved for his sense of humour and sharing tales about his wide-ranging hobbies, which included ballroom dancing, refereeing, vegetable growing and even magic.

In retirement, he travelled extensively while enjoying reading and tackling the daily crossword.

He is survived by his four children and five grandchildren.