Born on 1st December, 1920, Edmund (Eddie) William Barker was educated at Serangoon English School and Raffles Institution. At Raffles Institution, he was school captain, head prefect, and champion athlete in 1938. He represented the school in cricket, hockey, athletics and badminton, and later in Raffles College, he added to these sports, rugby. Outside school, Mr Barker played cricket an hockey for the Singapore Recreation Club (SRC) between the years of 1934 to 1941, when the SRC was one of the strongest teams on the island. As a hockey player, young Eddie Barker, together with Reggie Thoy, were the first schoolboys to be selected for the national side.
Mr Barker not only established himself as a sportsman and leader in his school and college days, but was also very much a scholar – an admirable mix of brain and brawn. In 1946, he was awarded the prestigious Queen's Scholarship, and two years later he studied law at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with honours (MALL.B) in 1951. And as if the rigorous law degree was not demanding enough, Mr Barker continued to play sport at the university and won the badminton blue at Cambridge.
A barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple, London, Mr Barker returned to Singapore and practiced law from 1952 to 1964. In 1963, he was elected as MP for Tanglin – a post he held firmly till 1988, returning unopposed in successive general elections. That same year, Mr Barker also served as Speaker of the Singapore Legislative Assembly. As politician, he was committed to the people of Singapore and the progress of the nation, being a notable leader of the House for about 15 years from 1968. His political portfolios included Minister for Labour, National Development, Science and Technology, and Law. He was one of the longest serving Law Ministers in the Commonwealth as he held this position from 1964 to 1988.
After retiring from politics, Mr Baker remained an active citizen and served on several public and private corporations' board. His many portfolios included Chairmanship of the Singapore Turf Club, the shangrila Hotel Board of Directors and the Stock Exchange of Singapore. But sport was still very much the first love of E W Barker, and rightfully, the sporting fraternity fondly remembers him. As he was a dedicated team player in his competitive days, so was he as a sport administrator and leader. He served as president of the Singapore National Olympic Council for two decades since 1970, and was active in the organizing committee in Singapore's successful hosting of the 12th and 17th South East Asia Games (1973 & 1983). Mr Barker was an Honorary member of the SEA Games Federation. Mr Barker was also responsible for championing the building of the National Stadium in Kallang, having persuaded the government to allocate the land and financial resources for its erection. For his contributions to the development of sport in Singapore, Mr Barker was presented the Olympic Order (Silver) by the International Olympic Committee in 1985, and the Distinguished Service Award of the USA Sports Academy in 1983.
Yet for all his accomplishments and greatness, Mr Barker was always in touch with the man on the street, choosing the simple things in life. Mr Tan Ah Koon, former vice-chairman of the Tanglin Citizens' Consultative Committee, for example, fondly remembers how Mr Barker would officiate a tree-planting ceremony and then have roti prata at the Adam Road hawker center like any other person.
In a similar vein, his contributions to sport in Singapore were not focused on the elite athletes only, but the average, up-and-coming sportsperson. Mr Barker was not an Olympian, nor was he Sportsman of any year. Yet, he was referred to as "Mr Singapore Sport" because he represented the average sportsman, the average player, the dedicated official. To officials, he is a model to follow, with an authority that speaks of his wealth of personal experience. To sports fans, he was a beacon of hope for better sport, being constantly attuned to popular demands. To athletes, he was a fine example of a player who played as the game should be played.
In honour of E. W Barker, Ken Jalleh the sports writer once wrote,
"These are Singaporeans content to play, happy to be good enough to be selected for a Raffles side, a SRC team, and better still, the state eleven. To this army of sportsmen, the satisfaction comes in the playing or in the service they can give to club, association or country.
If in playing their best, the applause came, they took it like bonuses freely given. The bonuses were many for young Eddie in the days of his prime."
E W Barker Professorship & Scholarship in Physical Education & Sports Science
In remembrance of Mr E. W Baker, and his contributions as statesman, scholar, sportsman and supporter of sports, it is proposed that a professorship and scholarship be named in his honour. The professorship and scholarship seek to continue Mr. Barker's legacy and involvement in sport and physical activity, these having been his first love.
Mr Barker was, and had always been, in the driving seat promoting and nurturing the sport scene in Singapore. Over the years, several reports on sports in Singapore were made, including the recent CoSS report. In these reports, recommendations for the need to nurture effective sporting bodies, building a sports industry, promoting sport for all, and developing sporting excellence have been made. Much needs to be done in each of these areas, and research, understanding and development of best-practices in these areas are clearly essential.
The E W Barker Professorship aims to identify world-class researchers and other renowned individuals, and invite them to look into the emerging needs and practices in sporting Singapore. In keeping with Mr Barkers' ability to transcend all levels of sporting prowess, individuals invited on the professorship would be expected to share their knowledge and expertise with teachers, coaches, athletes, and other academics within physical education and sports. The professorship will also promote collaborative research in Physical Education and Sports Science between National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University, the Singapore Sports Council, the Singapore National Olympic Council, and other universities across the globe.
The E W Barker Scholarship will continue Mr Barker's support for nurturing talented individuals to pursue a programme in physical education and sports. The scholarship will support undergraduate and graduate studies in Physical Education and Sports Science at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University. The scholarship will be made available to athletes or individuals with sporting backgrounds and interested in pursuing a career in physical education and sports.
