The Army Headquarters community in Andover, Hampshire, has bid a heartfelt farewell to a man who has defined dedication, discipline and decades of service.
Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Barry Atkins officially retired on 4 July after an extraordinary 57 years in the Ministry of Defence – signing off with one final, spirited circuit training session at the age of 79.
A life shaped by resilience
Born shortly after the Second World War with serious gastric complications, Barry’s early days were marked by a bleak prognosis in a pre-NHS Britain.
“I was sent home to die,” he recalled.
But thanks to the determination of his mother, who nursed him with watered-down cow’s milk, Barry survived.
“I owed it to her to keep going because she gave me that chance,” he said.
That resilience would shape his entire life and career.
From radio relay to RAF expeditions
Barry began his career in 1964, enlisting in the Royal Signals as a radio relay operator. When that path closed, he retrained as a PTI and never looked back.
After five years with the Army, he took his skills to a women’s mental health hospital before joining the Royal Air Force as a physical training instructor – a role he held for 17 years.
During his RAF service, Barry expanded into adventurous training, leading expeditions across the UK and Europe, from the Scottish Highlands to the Dolomites. His passion and expertise earned him a place as an instructor at the RAF’s adventurous training centre in Llanrwst, north Wales.
Civilian PTI and Army HQ icon
In 1990, Barry stepped out of uniform but stayed true to his vocation. As a civilian PTI at RAF Halton and later as gym manager at the Defence Logistics Organisation in Andover, now Army HQ, Barry inspired generations of military and civilian staff.
He developed innovative fitness programmes, ran countless training sessions, and became a familiar and motivational presence in the gym. In 2025, his service was formally recognised with a Chief of the General Staff Commendation in the King’s Birthday Honours.
A final press-up and a lasting legacy
Barry’s final session on 4 July was filled with emotion as soldiers, colleagues and friends, many decades younger, gathered to take part. Colonel John Dagless paid tribute: “Barry, over the last decade, I have observed you to be the epitome of a servant leader…You put the needs of others first and helped people perform as highly as possible.”
He added with admiration, “We often say, ‘I hope I’m half as active and as fit as Barry is at 79.’”
As a token of thanks, Barry was presented with a framed Army Headquarters flag, while his wife, Janet, who has supported him throughout, received a large bouquet of flowers.
New chapter begins
Looking ahead, Barry leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service and fitness. From post-war adversity to military expeditions and mentoring thousands, his influence is deeply embedded in the ethos of the Army HQ community. And as he and Janet start their next chapter, one thing is certain: few can match the impact of Barry Atkins – the PTI who never stopped giving.
