The Hilger Spectroscopy Prize was inaugurated in 1975 by the Atomic Spectroscopy Group of The Royal Society of Chemistry. The Prize is awarded to the young person (under 35 years of age in the year the award is made) who, in the opinion of the Committee, has made a significant contribution to atomic spectroscopy. It is customary for the recipient to give a lecture on their specialist topic at an ASG meeting within the preceding twelve months. It is timely to review how the first winner of the prize, Barry Sharp (B.L.S.), has emerged in the field of atomic spectroscopy in the subsequent 15 years. An interview with Barry Sharp was arranged at the recent 5th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy symposium (BNASS)at Loughborough University of Technology. The interview was conducted by Dr. John Dean (J.D.)(Honorary Secretary) and Dr. John Marshall (J.M.)(the then Vice-Chairman).