Barry ‘Rare’ Breed: Titan of Industry, a leader respected and loved in equal measure
In the world of luxury property, Barry 'Rare' Breed was a beacon of joy, positivity, and friendship. He was one of the first champions of The Luxury Property Forum and supporter of community, connections and industry growth. Barry brought people together with generosity, not with expectation but with the pure intention of fostering connections that could uplift one another. His remarkable spirit left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him and, as we reflect on his life and values, we are reminded of the enduring power of spreading joy and cultivating genuine, selfless connections.
In February 2023, the industry lost a friend, a colleague and mentor.
We are privileged to have his partner, Michelle Henry, share a few words about Barry. We asked Michelle to tell us about Barry’s early years as well as the values he lived by.
We should all, “Be More Barry” and allow his values and legacy to live on.
Barry's journey began as a child with an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit. Crafting and selling wooden clocks and running a successful car washing business as a tween, he demonstrated his innate talent for business from an early age. By his early teens, Barry had already saved thousands of pounds and opened a bank account, a testament to his remarkable determination.
After completing his education through a Carpentry Youth Training Scheme (YTS), a path inspired by his father, Tony, who was a successful ‘on the tools’ carpenter, Barry excelled in his career. Winning Apprentice of the Year for two consecutive years, he ascended to various management positions at Mayfair-based construction company, Holloway White Allom, ultimately reaching the role of Construction Director for their London Operations. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Darren Size, a pivotal encounter that would change the course of their lives.
In 2009, Barry and Darren embarked on an audacious journey, founding Sizebreed Construction (now Size Group) amidst a global financial crisis and recession. Despite the challenging economic climate, they succeeded in delivering some of the largest and highest-quality private residential projects in London and the Home Counties, with Barry also overseeing international endeavours.
Barry went on to found other businesses including Beau Bespoke alongside Jerome Bradley and Tony Gerrard, and acted as a non-executive director for a number of industry leading and emerging businesses.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Barry was a compassionate individual who made a significant impact in the lives of others. He played a pivotal role in establishing apprenticeship and graduate programs, providing countless young people with essential skills and opportunities. Barry's willingness to extend a hand to talented individuals in need, demonstrated his innate generosity and selflessness. He didn't wait to be asked for help; he took it upon himself to uplift those around him.
Barry's leadership style was a unique blend of strength and sensitivity. He was unafraid to show his emotions, and he welcomed everyone with open arms. His inclusive and tolerant nature made everyone feel valued, regardless of their position. His infectious laughter and constant smile brought light to every situation, diffusing even the most challenging of circumstances. Barry was a masterful relationship manager, instantly likable and credible, putting people at ease and making them feel important.
Although Barry accomplished much in his career, he would say that his most important role was that of a father to Joe and Maddy, who will forever be his most significant achievement.
Each of us can learn something from Barry’s values to enhance our own careers and life experiences.
Be More Barry – A roadmap for us all and values to live by
Work Ethic & Accountability:
More than anything, Barry believed (and proved) that if you want something, you personally have to make it happen. Take proactive steps to achieve your goals.
Empathy:
His exceptional leadership and relationship management skills were rooted in his empathy. He knew people were the source of progress, not machines or plans or numbers etc. Be kind and recognise the importance of people in driving progress.
Fun:
Barry hated waking up in the morning but never cancelled and he always brought his best self to everything. He motivated himself by making everything fun and finding the humour and joy in every moment (or soon after difficult moments). Have fun, even in the face of challenges. Work should be enjoyable, and people are the key to that.
Problem-Solving:
There is always a solution. Barry excelled at finding solutions and never succumbed to catastrophic thinking, earning him immense credibility in tackling issues. Whatever the problem, there is always a solution.
Leadership without Arrogance:
He was humble and modest. Success was enough for him. He didn't feel the need to 'posture' or present as better than anyone else. If anything, this generated greater levels of respect and admiration for him. True success is not about posturing but making a positive impact.
Here are what some of Barry’s industry friends had to say:
“Baz, was a Human Superlative. A friend, a super communicator, was the epitome of loyalty, always there to support and uplift those around him. His emotional intelligence was off the charts, effortlessly navigating the minefields of human interactions and understanding the needs and feelings of those around him. In the realm of friendship and fun, Baz was King.”
Jerome Bradley –Beau Bespoke
“Barry was a wonderful man to share breakfast with. A problem shared with Barry was a problem simplified. He was charming, genuine and straightforward, with an overwhelming sense of fun.”
Ian Jones, Size Group
“As well as being a friend and mentor, Barry was an inspiration to all of us thanks to his unwavering belief in himself and others. With Barry in your corner, you always knew you were going to succeed, no matter the challenge.”
Philippa Somerset - Somerset Estates
“What can one say about a friend like Barry? From our first job -thrown together in Belgravia, to the last time he gave me a lift back from the airport a couple of weeks before he passed away, I loved every minute of his company.
Always so generous with his time, compassion and overflowing with boundless energy his ability to connect everyone in the industry was unsurpassed. Bringing people to the office to introduce us or setting up a long lunch to gossip about our competitors, it was never dull.”
Kees Van der Sande – Formation Architects
“He was a great friend and work colleague. Over and above that he was a great man, respected by all around him. He was loved by many and returned that love in endless quantity. He was a joy to be around and always made me laugh. I have already and will continue to miss him tonnes.”
Tony Gerrard – Beau Bespoke
“When talking about potential projects and Barry sat in our Board meetings as Business Development Director, if a project slipped by us for whatever reason, Barry would always say “Neil – don’t worry there is plenty of work for all of us and something will come through”. Never truer words spoken and he was a master of knowing the right project for us to get involved in.”
Neil Burke – NBJ
“One day, during a fab lunch and a wonderful afternoon, Barry asked me what I thought my most valuable asset was. I really wasn’t sure what or how to answer and he said the following. “It’s your integrity. Don’t trade it, don't barter with it, never compromise it. It's not for sale at any price”.
So many times those words have come back to me. God he was so right.”
Martin Corton – Rainleaf
“Barry was my friend for well over 20 years, before either of us were married or had kids. I shared so many amazing memories with him. Barry was undoubtedly one of the funniest and craziest people I ever met, uniquely talented in many ways. He could get more things done in a day than anyone I knew, and he definitely left an impression on everyone he met! At Size Group, we miss him and talk about him every day, and it's rare that the stories we share don't lead to a very loud laugh!”
Darren Size, Size Group
Continue the Legacy - When great people meet, great things happen...
Barry was a tremendous supporter of those ‘climbing the ranks’, just as he had done, generously giving people opportunities wherever he could and staying in touch as a seasoned professional to mentor and guide them.
The Barry Breed Memorial Fund has been set up to support the Building Crafts College https://thebcc.ac.uk/ in nurturing, training, mentoring and supporting the "next generation of Barrys" – just as he would have continued to do. The purpose of the legacy is to create opportunities each year for both individual and groups of young people at the Building Crafts College, helping them to enter into the sector and open their eyes to their potential future career paths. Through a mixture of funding, mentoring and community engagement, the legacy fund will be used to help support those, who might otherwise be held back by traditional barriers to entry, take their first career path steps.