Man 'flabbergasted' as he returns to Liverpool for first time in 30 years

A man said he was “flabbergasted” upon returning home to Liverpool after having lived over 5,000 miles away for 30 years. Barry Jones, who was born in Walton and grew up in Sefton, made a name for himself as a youngster working as a special effects model maker.

The 61-year-old was rubbing shoulders with Gerry Anderson, most famous for making Thunderbirds and Space 1999, but said he was “fed up” with being unemployed during quiet periods of work and decided to start his own company. The company, Halcyon Models, made tie-in plastic kits with licenses for the Alien movie series, and Predator and Terminator films. It was through this company, that he was offered the chance to move to California and eventually settle in Palm Springs.

Barry, now living in Crosby, also worked with renowned filmmakers such as Tim Burton on his film Mars Attacks! and others.

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However, for his last seven years in America, Barry worked in the LGBTQ+ non-profit space as a charity worker. He wanted to continue in this line of work when he moved back home to Merseyside and took up a role at Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity, Sahir House.

He told the ECHO: “I got to an age where I just stopped and suddenly realised that life isn’t all about yourself. I wanted to give back to the community. It became a mission for me to improve the lives of others around me.

“Being back home is so strange. I feel like Rip Van Winkle, like I’ve been asleep and then I’ve woken up and everything has changed. It is still Liverpool but it is Liverpool with bells on, in the best way.

“The changes I’ve seen in the city since moving back in June are just incredible. It’s so much more vibrant and way more affluent-looking than the city I left behind.”

Barry said the city’s queer visibility has come on heaps and bounds from when he last experienced it. For him, it comprised of one pub and “that was all”. This is a stark contrast to the city’s Pride Quarter many know and love today with more than a handful of safe spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Barry said: “The LGBTQ+ community for me back then was just one pub, The Lisbon. We had it and that was all. Everything else was underground and quiet. It was still very much a hostile environment and we were still suffering from Margaret Thatcher and Section 28. There was a lot of fear and ignorance around.

“So visibility for the community has come on hugely. I took part in Pride in Liverpool this year for the first time and I was flabbergasted at the outpour of support and joy from people. It’s a very changed town and it’s beautiful to be back.”

As part of his new role, Barry and two Pride Quarter drag queens, Debbie Darling and Ketona Madrave, are abseiling down the Anglican Cathedral. The event on Saturday, 21 September is to raise funds to allow the charity to continue its vital work - whether it be helping to eradicate all new HIV diagnoses by 2030 or aiding asylum seekers as they settle into the city.

He said: “I came back to Britain and it’s still austerity Britain. Money to fund charities is so hard to come by these days. Anything we can to elevate our footprint and get the charity attention, I’m willing to do.”

Sahir House has integrated itself into carrying out vital work across Merseyside since its inception in 1985. The health and well-being charity offers HIV support, prevention, information and training across the region.