Chief reporter Jack Tolson looks back through the Chronicle archives of November 2003

MPs BID TO BRING £1.4BN ARMY CONTRACT TO BARNSLEY

TWO Barnsley MPs will lobby government ministers to convince them a £1.4bn contract for a new fleet of army combat support vehicles should go to a Barnsley company.

Eric Illsley and Jeff Ennis have already met with representatives of the Barnsley Development Agency to discuss the contract that could be awarded to the Tankersley-based Mercedes Benz assembly plant.

And if it comes off, the contract for the 8,500 trucks for the Ministry of Defence could result in around 1,200 jobs both in Barnsley and all over the country.

This week, Mr Illsley MP for Barnsley Central and Mr Ennis who represents Barnsley East said they would now be presenting the case for the contract to come to Barnsley with ministers.

Mercedes Benz occupies a 110-acre site at Wentworth Park Industrial Estate and is one of the four companies hoping to secure the contract.

As well as being used to assemble the trucks, the Tankersley site would also provide a training base.

Mr Illsley said: “Mercedes Benz is a world class company and we are anxious that they not only retain but expand their presence in Barnsley.”

Mr Ennis added: “The company is well placed to benefit from the award of this contract in view of the location.”

WHY CHRIS CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

DOG trainer Chris Biggins has become the first person in Barnsley to gain a qualification in canine training and behaviour.

Chris, who runs her own dog school Dogsense, passed out with an HNC and is now going on to study for a degree in the subject.

She became interested in learning more about dog behaviour when she had problems with her own, Jade, and disagreed with the methods used by a trainer.

“Jade was quite nervy but aggressive and it was very much the choke method being used,” she said.

“I didn’t think it was working so I decided to try myself.

“All my work is based around rewarding the dog when they get it right and ignoring them when they get it wrong.

“All dogs want to please and want attention and if you ignore them that is the best way to get the message across, in my opinion.”

WHAT A WHOPPER

EDWARD Hodgson, seven, is the same size as the monster parsnip he helped grow.

He helped Barry Micklethwaite, of Birdwell, to cultivate the giant veg.

It is about four feet long and weighs 5lbs 10oz just three ounces off Barry’s record for a parsnip which he set in November 2000.

“Edward has been helping me all summer,” Barry said.

“He comes down and talks to the plants and likes nothing more than getting a spade into the garden.”