Mr Forsyth Barr, better known as Peter Barr, was the son of the founder of New Zealand accountancy, Peter Barr.
Mr Forsyth Barr was educated at Otago Boys' High School and the University of Otago and studied accountancy at the latter, while working at his father's firm. But work and study came second to his love of sport.
He failed his final examination and went on tour to Europe.
On returning in 1935 he shocked his family by announcing plans to become a sharebroker. The following year the broking firm Forsyth Barr was born.
Mr Sidey said his fatherMurray was a partner of Forsyth Barr, along with Keith Skinner.
Regalling the tale of the desk, Mr Sidey said the senior Peter Barr founded the accountancy firm of Barr Burgess and Stewart and then went on to found the New Zealand Society of Accounts.
He was also the secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce for 32 continuous years from 1891 to 1923 when he resigned as secretary and was promoted to president.
The desk was presented by the chamber to Mr Barr for long service.
When Mr Forsyth Barr died, the desk was given back to Otago Chamber and was used in its offices, until it recently moved premises. The desk was then presented to Forsyth Barr.
Asked if it brought back any special memories about his godfather, Mr Sidey said that Mr Forsyth Barr and his father were best friends and played golf together at Balmacewen regularly on Sundays.
On one Sunday, Mr Sidey's brother Alistair was the caddy.
On The Glen, Mr Forsyth Barr gave a wrong score for the hole.
It also happened at the next hole, a point Alistair made to his father.
At the end of the day, a call was made to Murray Sidey to ask how Mr Forsyth Barr had seemed through the day. It was then revealed he had a brain tumor and did not have long to live.
"When I play Balmacewen, I make a point of talking about The Glen to my partners. That has special meaning."
