Barnsley Chronicle chief reporter JACK TOLSON takes a look back through the archives to June 1985

HOSPITAL CAR PARK EXTENSION PLAN TO HELP EASE PROBLEM

PROBLEM parking at Barnsley District General Hospital may be reduced by plans to extend the car park.

In a letter to the Community Health Council, the hospital’s assistant administrator explained that the Area Health Authority plan to create more spaces for cars outside the main reception block and on spare land by the pathology department.

The letter followed a request from Barnsley CHC to end the long-running problem of ‘silly’ parking, particularly on double yellow-lines on the road leading up to the hospital.

Members of the health council had advocated the use of wheel clamps to deter motorists from parking in places which cause difficulties for pedestrians or for other motorists driving to the hospital.

The assistant administrator, Mr Roy Hulme, in his letter said that the authority were also considering wheel clamps as an option.

CHC members suggested it might be worthwhile carrying out a survey to discover what percentage of people using the car parking were patients, and whether it would be possible at ‘quiet’ times to use staff parking spaces for visitors.

THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE, SAYS MINER

MINER Harry Hollingsworth went to hospital with a broken finger after a pit accident - and a sharp-eyed doctor noticed something unusual.

Harry, a 55-year-old father of three, had unusually large hands - a possible symptom of a brain tumour.

The unsuspecting Kinsley Drift pitman was given a brain scan and a week later underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour.

The operation, 18 months ago, was a complete success and now Harry is back at work.

“There’s no doubt about it - I owe my life to the brain scanner and the keen eye of a very observant doctor,” he said.

So when workmates started raising money for hospital scanning equipment the dust sampler was the first to back the campaign.

And when Kinsley Drift handed over a cheque for £809.26 for the Don Valley Body Scanner Appeal, Harry naturally was a guest of honour.

Pit deputies raised the money through raffles, draws and concerts.

In the last couple of years, they’ve also handed over £450 each to Barnsley and Pontefract hospitals.

NOTHING NEW FOR DEAN

LUNDWOOD six-year-old Dean Love was trapped in a concrete overflow pipe for over an hour on Sunday.

Dean was playing on a field at the rear of his home when he caught his leg in the pipe.

Friends failed to set him free and after half an hour decided to send for the fire brigade.

Dean’s cry for help alerted neighbours who eventually released him shortly before the fire service arrived.

A police spokesman said: “The young lad wasn’t in any immediate danger, there was no threat of the pipe overflowing.

“But we would like to warn youngsters not to play near the pipes, we don’t want any more accidents.”

Dean’s mum Susan said: “He’s the rogue of the family, always up to tricks like this.”