Books
For Pete’s Sake: Part I – 1939 to 1970, Entertaining Tales of Providence
In this extraordinary memoir, Peter Barry recounts a life full of misdeeds and misadventures, tough times and unexpected pitfalls, shot through with many magical moments of providence, coincidence, absurdity and sheer good fortune. From a childhood on a hilltop farm – as the landscape of rural Northern England changed forever – to building the legendary Snowy Dam in Australia, from playing gigs in Lancashire village halls to recording albums in Australia and entertaining troops in the Vietnam War, Peter Barry’s long and colourful life has bumped up against history, time after time, in a truly remarkable way. This is the first volume of a story – from 1939 to 1970 – in which the ever-resourceful, ever-hopeful Peter observes the end of an era in England and the start of a new one in Australia, falls in love with the East and, again and again, finds himself in the right spot at just the right time.
For Pete’s Sake: Part II – 1970 to 1993+ More entertaining Tales of Providence
Peter arrives in Taiwan with a handful of gigs booked and an even smaller handful of dollars. Soon, he marries the love of his life, and they plan fresh adventures in the then-British territory of Hong Kong. Whether Peter and his wife Man Ling are selling handicrafts to HK’s booming boutique scene, starting a family alongside running their own restaurant, or trying their hand at a property rental, they never lose their sense of wonder, or of gratitude for the opportunities that come their way. And in a manner that’s both surprising and inspiring for modern readers, they do it in the face of repeated setbacks and failures. Whilst raising a lively young family alongside a series of business ventures, Peter’s frank account gives a fascinating insight into times and places long since vanished. This is quite simply a wonderful story; if you’ve ever wondered what the phrase ‘a life well lived’ means, you’ll find the answer here.
Music
The Settlers sings Songs of the Snowy Mountains
“Songs of the Snowy Mountains” is a folk music album created by The Settlers, a group formed in 1965 consisting of Ulick O'Boyle, Anne Rutherford, Peter Barry. Peter Barry was one of the founding members and featured on their earliest recordings. The Settlers performed songs that captured the spirit, life, and camaraderie of the workers involved in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, one of Australia’s great engineering projects.
The album is known for its evocative portrayal of the lives and hardships faced by the workers, often drawing on real stories and events. Ulick O'Boyle, who wrote most of the material, was praised for his ability to capture the atmosphere – diverse nationalities, loves, dangers, comedies, and tragedies – of the Snowy scheme. The songs tell stories such as “The Big Construction Game,” “The fate of The Dozer Driver Man,” “Olaf,” and the poignant “Ballad of Big Pedro,” making the album a narrative tapestry of Australia’s post-war dream and multicultural workforce.
Breath of Fresh Air
Excerpt from the back of the album back cover:
Being an unsettled settler, he left the group to make his own way and headed for Sydney Town—a break from the mountains and the people he had grown to love. It proved a wise move, as his fresh style quickly won over clubs and television audiences.
The decision to record an LP of yodelling songs came naturally. Whether singing in leading clubs, appearing on television, or simply around a campfire in the Snowy, Peter charms listeners with his sweet and skilful yodel changes.
And if you ask Peter where he thinks this journey will take him, he’ll smile and say: “I’ll let you know when I get there!”
Songs of Hong Kong
Peter Barry first arrived in Hong Kong in 1970 via Taiwan, where he had married his wife Ling after meeting her at a restaurant performance in Taipei. The couple settled in Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) on Lantau Island, where Barry has lived for over 50 years.
His deep connection to Hong Kong inspired the album. As he described in a 2024 interview with Gary Brightman at VIBE: “The Hong Kong Scene” was one of his notable tracks that captured his experience of living in the territory for many years, expressing his love for the waves, mountains, and the way the sun shines nearly every day.
Peter wrote and produced the album during a pivotal time in Hong Kong’s development – the early 1980s when the territory was transitioning from a manufacturing hub to a financial centre, with the handover to China still over a decade away. Barry’s perspective as a long-term Western resident who had witnessed Hong Kong’s transformation from rural farming communities to urban development provided a unique viewpoint.
Key Musicians:
• Peter Barry – vocals, guitar
• Man Ling Barry – backing vocals
• Yank Wong – lead guitar
• Robin Lynam – guitar
• Perry Martin – bass
Contact
If you’d like to get in touch with Peter or Man Ling Barry, send a message.