Bristow: Barker

Young Barker of the Northern Branch, joins the Buying Department very early on (in a series starting in January 1963). Bristow is instantly suspicious since he exactly conforms to the young, dynamic, eager-to-get-on types described in Space at the Summit as the most dangerous of rivals

Strip 605 - Fudge introduces Barker

He is a university graduate and clearly well in with Fudge, and his firm handshake and steady gaze, deployed at once in Strip 605

Strip 605 was published in the Evening Standard in January 1963

unsettle Bristow to his core. He is right to be worried. Almost at once Barker is promoted to Assistant Buyer. Bristow is mortified. He has been with the firm over eight years and this kid has leaped over him into the very job that he wants. Naturally Bristow plots to bring the upstart down.

His fellow clerks Jones and Hewitt are recruited (Pilkington, partially identified with the management through being the senior clerk is excluded from the conspiracy).They huddle together, with many a "rhubarb rhubarb" planning mutiny but Barker proves a slippery customer. Bristow tries to trip him up in front of Fudge with a complicated question and Barker merely suggests that Bristow sort it out himself. Bristow is able to sabotage Barker's proposed economy drive though, with a flurry of memos supporting it, and seven copies apiece).

Barker soon realises the limits of Bristow's capabilities and they reach a measure of agreement that suits them both. Bristow confesses to his mate, known only as the "new man in the accounts" that Barker is just giving him the simpler jobs. The "new man" thinks this might indicate that Barker does not regard Bristow as very capable. Bristow first reacts with the thought that he is being victimised but then reasons differently.

So I'm being victimised
Barker thinks I’m incapable of harder jobs.
Let him think so..let him think so...let him give me the simple jobs
I should worry...as far as I’m concerned the simpler the better.
For the first time in seven years I can cope
strip 662, published in the Evening Standard in March 1963

Despite his keeness and youthful enthusiasm, Barker is gradually beaten by the stubborn stonewall tactics of the old hands. He almost admits defeat in strip 1096

Strip 1096 was published in the Evening Standard in August 1964

. However the war is long and hard.

Barker attempts to persuade Bristow to think more for himself (Bristow: Thinks - what are you, some kind of nut?). He threatens him with dismissal for spending far too long on a simple errand to the legal department. He makes sarcastic remarks when Bristow keeps his window open. And then without warning, in strip 1626 in April 1966 we learn that he is transferred back to the Northern branch. The clerks celebrate on the grounds that this moves everyone one up in the pecking order (to sixteenth, to be precise) before Atkins points out that Barker is still with the firm and therefore still superior to them.

After his departure the Buying Department reverts to a simpler structure; the job of Assistant Buyer is abolished leaving Bristow with a clearer path to his goal of becoming Chief Buyer. There is only the little matter of the sixteen or seventeen men with a prior claim.

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Bristow's Superiors
Barker
	strip 1090 Strip 1090 was published in the Evening Standard in August 1964 Young Barker of the Northern Branch, joins the Buying Department very early on (in a series starting in January 1963). Bristow is instantly suspicious since he exactly conforms to the young, dynamic, eager-to-get-on types described in Space at the Summit as the most dangerous of rivals Strip 605 - Fudge introduces Barker He is a university graduate and clearly well in with Fudge, and his firm handshake and steady gaze, deployed at once in Strip 605 Strip 605 was published in the Evening Standard in January 1963 unsettle Bristow to his core. He is right to be worried. Almost at once Barker is promoted to Assistant Buyer. Bristow is mortified. He has been with the firm over eight years and this kid has leaped over him into the very job that he wants. Naturally Bristow plots to bring the upstart down. His fellow clerks Jones and Hewitt are recruited (Pilkington, partially identified with the management through being the senior clerk is excluded from the conspiracy).They huddle together, with many a "rhubarb rhubarb" planning mutiny but Barker proves a slippery customer. Bristow tries to trip him up in front of Fudge with a complicated question and Barker merely suggests that Bristow sort it out himself. Bristow is able to sabotage Barker's proposed economy drive though, with a flurry of memos supporting it, and seven copies apiece). Barker soon realises the limits of Bristow's capabilities and they reach a measure of agreement that suits them both. Bristow confesses to his mate, known only as the "new man in the accounts" that Barker is just giving him the simpler jobs. The "new man" thinks this might indicate that Barker does not regard Bristow as very capable. Bristow first reacts with the thought that he is being victimised but then reasons differently. So I'm being victimised Barker thinks I’m incapable of harder jobs. Let him think so..let him think so...let him give me the simple jobs I should worry...as far as I’m concerned the simpler the better. For the first time in seven years I can cope strip 662, published in the Evening Standard in March 1963 Despite his keeness and youthful enthusiasm, Barker is gradually beaten by the stubborn stonewall tactics of the old hands. He almost admits defeat in strip 1096 Strip 1096 was published in the Evening Standard in August 1964 . However the war is long and hard. Barker attempts to persuade Bristow to think more for himself (Bristow: Thinks - what are you, some kind of nut?). He threatens him with dismissal for spending far too long on a simple errand to the legal department. He makes sarcastic remarks when Bristow keeps his window open. And then without warning, in strip 1626 in April 1966 we learn that he is transferred back to the Northern branch. The clerks celebrate on the grounds that this moves everyone one up in the pecking order (to sixteenth, to be precise) before Atkins points out that Barker is still with the firm and therefore still superior to them. After his departure the Buying Department reverts to a simpler structure; the job of Assistant Buyer is abolished leaving Bristow with a clearer path to his goal of becoming Chief Buyer. There is only the little matter of the sixteen or seventeen men with a prior claim. Top