Charlotte Hutton takes a look back at the Barnsley Chronicle from this week 56 years ago.
BRITISH policemen are acknowledged to be wonderful and one particular policeman has made a lasting impression on one visitor and can be regularly seen on traffic control duties in the centre of Barnsley.
He is PC William Harber, a 32-years-old member of the Borough Force whose main claim to fame - apart from the efficient way in which he handles the traffic at peak hours - is that he is the possessor of a giant ginger handlebar moustache.
It was his efficiency and his fine moustache, which measures eight inches from tip to tip, that provided a German visitor his only recollection of his visit to the town.
It was said that PC Harber had probably done more to sell Barnsley than all the booklets which have been published about the town.
BEING a member of one of South Yorkshire’s most famous vocal groups during the old music hall days, it was inevitable that, even at the age of 73, Mr Rueben Pease would be asked to give a performance during his golden wedding anniversary celebrations on Christmas Day.
Mr Pease and his wife, Lily, aged 71, were married on December 25 1913 at St George’s Parish Church.
During his younger days, Mr Pease and his two brothers - Charles and Richard - formed a vocal group and were popular in all parts of South Yorkshire.
“We carried on until 1950, when Charles died,” said Mr Pease. “And we became quite famous in this part of the world so I wasn’t surprised when I was asked to give a song or two while we were celebrating our wedding anniversary.”
A BARNSLEY man, who served 34 years with the regular army, reaching the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major, and has since been training army cadets in Barnsley, has been awarded the British Empire medal in the Queen’s new year’s honours.
He is 62-years-old R.S.M John McGarry, who is at present the Assistant Administrative Instructor to the First Cadet Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
He joined the army at the age of 17 with the Leinster Regiment, Ireland, and when that regiment disbanded in 1922 he joined the K.O.Y.L.I. In that regiment he served in India for four years before going to Burma until 1939.
One of R.S.M McGarry’s achievements in Barnsley has been the training of Cadets in rifle shooting. Since he took over, the battalion has created a record for the most cups won in the West Riding by one battalion.
HONOURS continue to crowd upon Dorothy Hyman at the end of yet another successful year in athletics.
‘Sportswoman of the Year’ trophies from sports-writers’ associations, national newspapers and the BBC have joined others in her trophy cabinet. And now Dorothy is to be honoured by her own folk.
On the suggestion of Coun Alan Warrington, Cudworth Urban Council have decided to arrange a civic reception for Dorothy at a Barnsley hotel.
During the reception, Dorothy will be presented with an illuminated copy of a special resolution lauding her feats in the realm of athletics.
And a review the progress being made towards the establishment at Cudworth of a new sports arena will be carried out.
