Barry was an architecture student at the Bartlett school, University College London (UCL). He moved into number 12 Tolmers Square with fellow students Caroline Lwin, Nick Wates, Pedro George, Doug Smith and Atalia Avrahami in September 1973. 

In 1975 he then moved with Atalia into 6 Tolmers Square where he lived with Rebecca Cadbury and others. The house had many visitors from Israel due to Atalia’s connections. 

In 1975 he was also appointed to the Camden Council architects department where he helped in the design of a number of social housing schemes. He later opened his own architectural practice – Randall, Shaw, Billingham Architects – which focused on social housing.

At the end of the Tolmers occupation, Barry bought a house in Springdale Road, Stoke Newington. He remained in close touch with all his Tolmers friends. 

Barry died of cancer in 2020.