An outstanding schoolboy cricketer at Ruthin School, Barber initially struggled to gain a place whilst at Cambridge after making his debut in 1955.
Swanton wrote: Often in bleak moments do I cast back to Bob Barber's 185 in front of 40,000 on that sunny Friday in January '66.
He batted without chance for five hours, starting decorously enough and then hitting the ball progressively harder and with a superb disdain to every corner of the field.
One recalls the exceptional vigour of his driving and how he brought his wrists into the cut, making room for the stroke.
It made blissful watching to English eyes – to one pair in particular, for by a wonderful chance father Barber had flown in from home that very day.