Several years ago HMGS EAST instituted the Scruby Award to honor Jack as the father of Historical Miniature Hobby in the U. S. and other individuals who, though their hobby life, made a contribution so vast that the hobby would not be the same without them. The award is made every year: this year Phil Barker was honored for his seminal contributions to Ancient Period wargaming. The Plaque read in part:

PHIL BARKER SCRUBY AWARD - 1997

During the last 30 years Phil has made enormous contributions to the hobby, especially in the Ancients period which though his tireless efforts has grown from a little played oddity to a period that is the third most played today, with a library shelf of reference works and rules to help.

Born in Devon (same county as Sir Frances Drake), Phil eventully became a Methods Engineer and developed his skills as a horseman before operating WRG full time. Phil's contribution to the hobby began as one of the founding members of The Society of Ancients in England in 1965 and as a regular contributor to hs popular magazine, The Slingshot. Today, Phil is an Honorary Vice President of that society.

In the late 60's, Phil, in collaboration with Bob O'Brien developed the first edition of the WRG Ancients rules introducing Orders and Reactions. In 1971 Phil and Bob formed WRG Ltd., which sold the rules through several editions. Phil produced armies and enemies of the ancient Rome, the first historical work geared to the hobby and setthe standard for such works. In addition, his enthusiasm was instrumental in setting up Renaissance Rules by George Gush, Setting Up a Wargame Campaign by Tony Bath, and Programmed Wargames by Charles Grant--all classics.

Phil has traveled the globe promulgating the ancient period, judging games in the U. S., Australia and Europe. His rules were the first accepted standard rules for Ancient tourneys and have become the staple of every historical mini convention because of Phil's efforts.

Beyond Ancients, Phil wrote many rules that were widely used and became seed ground for those that followed: 1925/50, 1st Edition and 1685/1845, covering the horse and musket period. In the 1990s Phil with Richard Bodley-Scott develaped an all new concept in Ancients gaming, the now well known and very popular DB series of rules that have expanded the period in the Ancients and medieval period even faster than his earlier effort. Phil is one of the few peop1e in the hobby that have had a range of figures named after him - the PB Ancient series from MiniFigs.

Today many people play his rules than any other individual rule set ever written - and there are many other people playing because of him. The Hobby would not be the same without him.

Phil was honored at a banquet at Historicon. Pat Condray, Terry Gore, Scott Holder, Bob Beattie, Duke Seifiied, Rod Burr and Dick Bryant talked about experiences with Phil over the years and how much he meant to them in their hobby experience. Previous recipients of the award are Don Featherstone, Dick Bryant, Pat Condray, and Duke Seifried.

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