Family behind S.B Barker looks back on its success

The S.B Barker team, from left: Alice Kirk, Caroline Kirk, Cyril Kirk, and long-standing employee David 'Arthur' Watts.

After 75 years in business, the family behind a long-standing electronics store in Coningsby are looking back fondly on happy memories.

S.B Barker Ltd was first established in 1949 by Stanley Barker, who began his career as an apprentice engineer in Woodhall Spa before World War Two began, and after conscripting into the Lincolnshire Regiment, was transferred to become a ‘Bevin boy’ working down in the mines.

When the war was over, he used his skills he had honed to establish his own electronics store on Coningsby’s High Street, where it remains to this day.

The origins of the store saw Mr Barker renting out TVs and other electrical appliances as well as purchase options, something the business still offers to this day.

S.B Barker's team, from left: Cyril Kirk, Alice Kirk, and David 'Arthur' Watts.

As televisions were still relatively rare at the time of the late Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne, Mr Barker hired out Coningsby village hall with a number of TVs set up inside so that locals could watch the coronation in 1952, and even provided sandwiches and tea!

The business became a Ltd company in 1972, around the time that Cyril Kirk joined the business after completing an apprenticeship with a Boston business. He went on to become a company director alongside Mr Barker and Mr Jerry Bloor, who would eventually sell his shares in the company to Cyril in 1978.

Over time, the business expanded when Stanley Barker bought the building next door, and transformed what was the property’s living room into a TV showroom.

Cyril then became the sole owner of the company around 15 years ago when Mr Barker stood down from the business.

Now Cyril’s daughter Alice, 29, is also a company director, alongside business partner Andrew Money, and mum Caroline has worked in the business for 45 years, and the business boasts eight employees including Cyril – four engineers and three in the shop.

Alice said: “I can remember working in here when I was a child, working behind the till!”

Cyril said that now the business is seeing their third generation of customers coming through their doors, and fondly remembers the business selling records and record players from their other store on Silver Street.

"The RAF lads would come in all the time and buy their music,” he said, “Saturday used to be a major trading day and now that’s totally changed with direct sales, huge warehouses, and the internet.

"But we’re stayed with the basic principles of good customer service and satisfaction, and that’s stood us in good stead all these years.”