40 Years of BAR Membership: Burke Bros Reflects on a Legacy with the British Association of Removers
15 Apr 2025
Published in: Member News
International removal company, Burke Bros Moving Group marks 40 years as members of the British Association of Removers.
While the British Association of Removers celebrates its 125-year milestone, Wolverhampton removals company Burke Bros Moving Group, marks its own landmark achievement: 40 years as a BAR member. These milestones highlight decades of commitment to excellence, professionalism and innovation within the removals and storage industry. Founders Chris and Gary Burke reflect on their 40-year membership and the evolution of the industry during that time.
Gary Burke: “The journey to BAR membership wasn’t without challenges. We initially applied to join the BAR after completing two years of trading but were advised to gain more experience and reapply in six months. We persisted, and our determination paid off; we successfully secured membership in 1985. Shortly afterwards, we also joined the BAR Overseas Group, reinforcing our dedication to providing both exceptional domestic and international moving services.
After spending a few more years building up our customer base and reputation, between 1989 and 1991 we expanded our footprint by acquiring three prominent BAR Member companies: Hudson & Rudge Removals Birmingham Ltd, George Clark Removals Ltd in Wolverhampton, and Goddards Removals Rugby Ltd. These companies, some established as early as 1844, were great investments and brought a rich legacy to Burke Bros Moving Group. We’re still expanding our reach, buying Evans Moving Limited covering Staffordshire, Stoke-on Trent and West Derbyshire in November 2024.”
Chris Burke: “We’ve been very involved with the BAR since we joined, and it’s been a significant partnership for us, with Burke Bros contributing considerably to the organisation over the years. Today, I’m continuing in an active role within the BAR as the West Midlands Area Treasurer. Gary represented the UK on the BAR study tour to Australia in 1988 and the following year he became the BAR West Midlands Area Chairman at just 31 years old, navigating the views and disagreements of many senior owners and managers. A few years later I attended a similar study tour in South Africa.”
Gary Burke: “In 1996, the BAR Commercial Moving Group (now the Working Relocation Group) organised a study tour of the USA, which I was a part of. The group visited Washington, Cleveland, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We observed the growth of self-storage there and anticipated its arrival in the UK. That was a turning point in the industry. The study tours were highly educational. From the 1988 tour, only a handful of participants remain active in the industry, but the lessons we learned were foundational. Representing the industry abroad was the prelude to the international removals conferences.
Nowadays, many BAR Members attend conventions like IAM and PAIMA annually, reflecting how the world has become smaller as more movers have entered the international market. The advent of the internet and email in the late 1990s brought everyone closer together. We also actively participated in the Trans Euro football tournament for BAR companies, winning the trophy three times out of four finals in the late 1980s and 1990s!”
Chris Burke: “The BAR also organised outstanding training courses, including the OCRM and HCRM certifications in removals management, which many of us attended in the 1980s. The quality of training was exceptional, led by industry icons such as Joe Luxford, Bert Broster, Derek Payne, Robert Crosthwaite and Len Cox and others. The BAR’s training courses are still high quality and exceptionally valuable today.
I remember that before the internet, local area meetings were very well-attended, with 25-50 members regularly participating. Aside from R&S magazine, these meetings were our primary way of communicating with BAR headquarters in Grays Inn Road, London. National councillors would relay our views to London and later Watford, reporting back at monthly area meetings. Back then the BAR had 700 Members and many of these were Overseas Members. There was both an Autumn and Spring conference, with significant attendance. Although only 70-80 companies might have been represented, we brought many staff, often resulting in over 500 attendees. At Burke Bros, we’d sometimes send 6-8 team members, including staff from our branches at Hudson & Rudge and Goddards Rugby.
Monthly area meetings featured guest speakers or sponsors, who often funded the buffet. These events provided opportunities to network and learn. It’s encouraging to see the West Midlands meetings resuming, albeit less frequently. Networking and social interactions remain valuable, and we still hold raffles at meetings to support the RBA, a tradition dating back 40 years. Some companies believed they gained little from the meetings, but many of those have since disappeared. Being part of an Association means getting involved.
Burke Bros still enjoy annual conferences as much as we did in 1985. While time and cost are common excuses for non-attendance, I believe those who miss out underestimate the value of participation.”
Gary Burke: “BAR membership has been a cornerstone of our journey, providing a framework for continuous improvement and setting high standards for our staff and services. It is a testament to our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Membership is a mark of excellence in the removals industry, requiring companies to meet rigorous standards through regular inspections. Customers benefit from the assurance of professional service, pre-payment protection schemes and access to free advice and conciliation services.
Throughout its history, the BAR has set high professional standards, offering Members access to resources, training and advocacy. As Burke Bros Moving Group celebrates 40 years with the BAR, the company remains committed to innovation, continuous improvement and delivering exceptional service to its customers. This milestone is not just a celebration of our past but a foundation for the future of the company.”
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