One of the leading lights in Liverpool’s commercial property sector – Barry Owen – died in April aged 82 and now a new cancer centre is to name a garden in his honour. Tony McDonough reports
A garden in the grounds of the new Maggie’s cancer centre in Liverpool is to be named in honour of Barry Owen, who died in April aged 82.
For more than 50 years Barry was one of the leading lights in the city’s commercial property sector. Born in Stockport, he started his career at Bernard Thorpe & Partners in Liverpool in 1963.
In 1967 he established Mason Owen with Geoff Mason and the firm became one of the best known names in the city. Geoff, who also went on to set up Mason Partners, died in January 2024 aged 83.
Friends of the much-loved Barry, who received an OBE in 2009, have launched an appeal to help fund the support services and therapy activities that will be delivered in the garden to people with cancer, as well as their families.
Barry took great solace from the garden at his family home near Chester in the latter stages of his own cancer journey. Work on Maggie’s centre, to be built at the junction of Prescot Street and Daulby Street in Liverpool, is set to begin in March 2026.
His wife Susanne said: “Barry took such great comfort from walking in our garden and sitting amidst the plants and flowers.
“He would be so pleased to think that others coping with the impact of cancer could do likewise, particularly in the city he loved so much. This will be a very special place that I’m sure people will treasure.”
The new Maggie’s will be the 29th and the third funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation, with others on Wirral and in North Wales to have benefited from the Redrow founder’s personal charity.
“The ethos of our foundation is to ‘give money away well,’ and I’m sure many will want to follow that principle, too, as they acknowledge Barry’s great contribution to civic and business life,” said Steve.
“Every penny will go towards helping people in the Liverpool area with their cancer journey – a tough road to travel.”
A number of founding key donors, including Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, the Boodles Charitable Trust, Mason Owen, Jim Clarke and Andy and Patricia Pritchard, have already committed to support the appeal.
A JustGiving page has been launched to allow everyone who knew Barry to have the opportunity to back the project and leave a message.
Jim Davies, one of Barry’s closest friends and co-founder of law firm DWF, said the turnout at Mr Owen’s memorial service in May “spoke volumes” of his impact not just on Liverpool’s business community, but the wider UK property industry.
“It was standing room only in the Anglican Cathedral and that says it all for me,” he added. “Barry gave so much to his home city and with the help of his many friends and colleagues this garden and the care and services offered in it will be his last great gift.
“He was a remarkably generous man, and now he’s asking us to help others.”
The new Maggie’s will provide free practical, psychological and emotional support for people with cancer, as well as their families and friends.
Those wishing to donate can click here. Anybody seeking to participate as a founder donor can discuss their requirements in confidence with Sasha Mathias in the fundraising team via ba*************@*****ok.com