Mark Anthony Barnes (10 Sep 1957 - 13 Apr 2025)

To a lovely cousin who I was unaware was so ill - we had only just started to be in touch after some time. It is so sad that we will not be in touch and to reinstate the family together again.

A gentleman in all senses. Going to miss those conversations about footy and music; daft jokes; and his ability to describe a fish finger sandwich or a beer in a series of noises rather than words, but most of all going to miss the man
himself. RIP Mark

Mark will be remembered as a remarkable person, a great colleague and a true professional who loved his job. A very sad loss for all who were lucky enough to have known him.

I can't sum up or express the loss sufficiently, Mark was always there for us. A wonderful person, a very good friend to Lynn and I, an amazing Godfather to Emily and Lucy, who always treated them as individuals of worth, always present, a constant in our lives for so many years. It is deeply sad and unimaginable to think he is no longer with us.

Mark was gentle, warm and kind, always thinking of the best in others, now gone the shadow of sadness is only lifted when I reflect on a man who made me laugh and smile on so many occasions, even in those difficult last few hours we shared together. His wry wit and courage in the face of adversity, will always stay with me. I look back fondly, remembering him sitting with me cheering on Brighton (however they played) and talking about you so loveingly Phoebe, his mum and family, Emily, Lucy and Lynn. Always interested in how we were all getting on, sharing his thoughts on music, walking dogs, rambling in the countryside along with so many other interests he had in life. He was truly a lovely man and very much part of our family, we will all miss him dearly.

May God bless and keep you Mark, rest in peace, you will always be, forever in our hearts !

Mark was a cousin and special friend to us. Fond memories and treasured time together. Such a loss to us all. Hard to believe he’s no longer with us.

I met Mark in 1969 when we both started at Colfe's. We used to get the bus together to school. We later started going to gigs on Sundays at the (now long demolished) Croydon Greyhound. I lost touch with him for a long time but when I met him again nearly 20 years ago it was if no time at all had passed. One of the nicest people I have ever met and I was proud to be one of his friends. I shall miss our trips to The Valley (and sometimes to the Amex), late nights at the Everest in Blackheath, lounging around in his kitchen- but most of all I will miss his laconic sense of humour.

Until we meet again, mate.

Mark was a true friend of mine for over more than fifty years. I, too, first met him at Colfe's and we were in the same chemistry and zoology classes in the sixth form. Even then, Mark had an esoteric and encyclopaedic knowledge of music.

In the later years, we went on a couple of history based trips to Ypres and last year to Normandy. I will always treasure these times with him and I shall miss his great sense of humour as well as his warmth, kindness and generosity of spirit. He was a truly wonderful man.

What can I say about our dear friend Mark that hasn't already been said so eloquently by so many others? I first met him in June 1982 and coming from a strict, very proper London office to a pretty relaxed Brighton Branch, the first person I met and frankly couldn't help noticing, was Mr Barnes, in a lairy Hawaiian shirt, hands behind his head and feet up in the desk! What on earth had I let myself in for, I thought??? He vehemently denied all of this, naturally, but with a Mark Barnes twinkle in his eye! A fine friend in good times and, especially, when times were grim for me; a funny holiday companion : Portugal, walking over herbs, looking at plants, and Mark saying, "I bet these flowers stink nice." and both of us collapsing in laughter at what he'd said. And when introducing my lovely Anne to our group of friends, how he went so much out of his way to make her feel welcome. He said it would be an honour to be my Best Man, but it was definitely an honour to have you as that. That was Mark, the best friend you could have. You'll always be with us, Mr Barnes.

Mark and I were at Colfes together - part of a large contingent of Marks in that year. In recent years we saw quite a lot of each other together with other OCs , frequently at events involving beer! He was a really nice man and a true gent, who will be greatly missed.

Very sad to hear of Mark's passing. I worked together with Mark over the last few years on some of our offshore wind projects and always enjoyed how the conversation expanded into so many different interesting areas but always back to football and of course, Brighton. Mark was one of the nice guys and will be missed.