PROPOSALS have been put forward to install a blue plaque in Darfield commemorating Maurice Dobson and Fred Halliday in a bid to honour everything they did for Barnsley.
Maurice was born in Wombwell in 1912 and like most boys of his age, he became a miner, going down the pits at the age of 14.
He worked as a miner until he was 17, before joining the army in 1929.
It was when Maurice was fighting in World War Two that he met his lifelong partner, Fred, who was from West Yorkshire.
After the war ended, the pair spent a decade working at hotels along the coast before deciding to move back to Barnsley.
Maurice and Fred settled in Darfield, taking over a small shop that was to become Darfield’s well-known convenience store.
Based on Vicar Road, it is now a beloved museum run by volunteers - and that’s where the blue plaque will be placed.
Darfield councillor Kevin Osborne has thrown his support behind the proposals.
He said: “To honour Maurice Dobson and Fred Halliday with a commemorative blue plaque is to pay tribute not only to two remarkable individuals but to the spirit of Darfield itself.
“Their former home, now Darfield Museum, is more than bricks and mortar - it is a living testament to creativity, courage, and community.
“Maurice and Fred lived openly as a couple in a time when such visibility carried real risk.
“Their quiet defiance and authenticity resonate today as a beacon of resilience and progress.
“Maurice, a stylish figure remembered for his sharp wit and artistic flair, brought vibrancy to Darfield’s social fabric, while Fred’s steadfast presence grounded their shared world.
“Together, they cultivated a home filled with warmth and eccentricity that has since become a local treasure.
“Transforming their house into a museum was an act of preservation - not just of artefacts, but of memory and meaning.
“It allows visitors to step into a space shaped by love and character, and to learn from lives that challenged convention with dignity.”
If the plans are approved, the plaque will be added to the museum with support from the Barnsley Civic Trust and Darfield Amenity Society.
Coun Osborne added: “A blue plaque would formally recognise their contribution, anchoring their story within the wider tapestry of South Yorkshire’s cultural heritage.
“It would signal to future generations that lives lived boldly and with integrity deserve remembrance.
“In commemorating Maurice and Fred, we celebrate more than two lives - we affirm a community’s capacity to evolve, embrace difference, and honour its own.
“Let this plaque be a gesture of respect, gratitude and pride. “
Four neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date.
Public consultation ends on August 25.
