Tribute to Ted Barwise: Remembering a Welding Pioneer and Mentor

Ted Barwise, one of the longest-serving and most respected figures at the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW), has passed away. His career spanned more than three decades of dedicated service to welding education and training, both in South Africa and beyond.

Barwise began his working life in Liverpool as an apprentice welder at Camell Laird, one of the world’s largest shipyards. What started as a technical trade soon turned into a lifelong commitment to learning, teaching and building strong human connections. His journey eventually brought him to South Africa in the 1980s, where he was hired by Chris Smallbone to lecture at SAIW.

From that first appointment, Barwise quickly became an indispensable part of the Institute. Over the next 30 years, he took on a range of roles, including training manager, and played a central part in shaping the SAIW’s training standards and internal systems. He taught his first class in what was then a makeshift contractor hut in the car park. That early experience reflected both the modest beginnings of the Practical Welding School and Barwise’s willingness to work through any challenge.

Throughout his career, he was known for his reliability, quiet charisma and strong rapport with students and staff alike. Colleagues frequently described him as the kind of person who simply got things done. Under the leadership of Jim Guild, Barwise helped the Institute regain accreditation as an IIW Authorised Training Body and worked behind the scenes to re-establish the Young Welder of the Year competition. He was tireless in his efforts, often putting in extra hours and handling a wide range of responsibilities without fanfare.

Even after retiring…for the third time in 2015, Barwise remained a familiar and welcome face at SAIW offices. Fondly known as “Uncle Ted,” he continued to share advice and stories, leaving an impression on every new generation of students and staff who crossed his path.

Reflecting on his career, Barwise once said, “What happens when you’ve been here for as long as I have, you meet people and build great friendships. That’s the thing. I have a good rapport with people, with the staff and with the students as well.”

He had a talent for learning on the go. “Chris said to me on a Friday, ‘Ted, you’re going to take a class on radiography on Monday,’ and I said, ‘You must be joking, I’ve never done radiography in my life!’ To which he replied, ‘Well you’ve got the weekend to learn.” Barwise embraced the challenge.

His approach to teaching was grounded in sincerity. “I’m not saying I’m the best lecturer, but I was pretty good at it. It’s a sort of charisma that you have when you go into class. If you haven’t got that enthusiasm, forget it.”

For Barwise, the reward was always in the work and the people. “I’ve really enjoyed my employment here. It’s the best job I’ve ever had and I think I made a contribution.”

He did more than contribute. Ted Barwise helped build the foundation of welding training in South Africa and inspired countless others along the way.