CONTINUING our look back at some of the stories that caught our eye in 2025 - now we’re into the Spring...
April
The then Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrived in Barnsley to unveil a new project - shaped in Barnsley - to get residents back into work.
Ms Kendall unveiled the first of nine trailblazer programmes in Barnsley to get Britain back to health and back to work, nine months on from her landmark speech on employment reforms in the town.
South Yorkshire is one of nine £125m-backed ‘inactivity trailblazers’ across the country to launch, with the aim of helping areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity as part of the wider ‘Plan for Change’.
She praised Barnsley at the event in the town centre and the scheme has gone onto be successful in the town, according to the council.
A pair of game developers from Barnsley dedicated their BAFTA win to their home town in April after picking up the ‘Best British Game’ award.
James Carbutt, from Wilthorpe, and Pogmoor’s Will Todd received seven BAFTA Game nominations for their project ‘Thank Goodness You’re Here’.
And at the awards ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the duo picked up the coveted award.
Will said: “To the kids growing up in Barnsley, and in towns like it, we hope that in some small way this inspires you tell your own story.
“If us two can do it, anyone can.”
Little Michael Keen finally returned home following a four-month hospital stay after being involved in a fatal collision which killed his grandfather just days before Christmas.
The young fighter remained at Sheffield Children’s Hospital for four months following a crash in December before finally returning home with his mum, Isabel, on April 11.
She said: “They didn’t think that he would make it but he’s such a fighter - he’s been through a lot.”
May
Two great-grandads completed a huge motorbike journey covering the length of the UK to raise money for The Salvation Army in Royston in May.
Bob Woodcock and Melvyn Thomas spent 11 days on the road after setting off from Royston, going down to Land’s End in Cornwall, up to John O’Groats and then back to Barnsley.
It was the 14th year that Bob has hit the road to raise money for charity on his Triumph 900 1996 bike and the third year that his friend Melvyn has joined him on his Royal Enfield 350.
A couple who reconnected more than six decades later were set to finally tie the knot in May - after they returned to Barnsley for an emotional proposal.
Billy Hollis got down on one knee outside the town hall - and love of his life Frances Newton gladly accepted.
Having both been born in Scarborough, Frances was adopted by Frank and Marjorie Bird at an early age and instead moved away from the popular east coast town to grow up in Notton and Royston.
Billy has lived in Scarborough all his life and knew his bride-to-be in their childhood until their paths went in different directions.
However, they found each other on a dating site in 2022 by ‘complete accident’ - as Frances unwittingly keyed in a 100-mile distance instead of a ten-mile radius from Barnsley.
Barnsley lass Frida was on the rise after teaming up with Grammy award-winning music producer Elliot Kennedy.
Worsbrough woman Frida, whose real name is Brooke Haigh, is already building up a loyal fanbase across the town by performing at numerous live music venues - including at the Proud of Barnsley awards later this year.
She teamed up with Ivor Novello-winning Eliot Kennedy, who himself has had an incredible career - producing hit after hit.
He’s worked with some of the biggest stars in the music world such as The Spice Girls, Gary Barlow and Celine Dion.
June
The Chronicle’s Young Champions Awards took place at the Metrodome in June - and there were plenty of worthy winners.
Newly-crowned boxing champion Callum Simpson gave his support to the finalists on the night.
There was also a good luck message from Oliver Rowland - the Barnsley-born motor racing driver who was crowned Formula E world champion in the summer.
Sam Nixon returned to present the awards for the second year in a row.
Almost 500 people attended the event and were entertained by local singers Angel Simon and Jake EB Music ahead of the awards being handed out.
A partially-sighted pianist who is now in her 80s said she never expected to be invited to perform on a hit Channel Four show - and has praised the overwhelming response she has received having wowed an audience.
Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, who lives in Darton, applied to appear on The Piano and, following approval from a panel of producers, was asked to meet host Claudia Winkleman for an interview before performing at Sheffield Railway Station.
She played Granada by Agustin Lara, with her performance - which took place last summer - airing on television this month.
Thousands of locals flocked to the town this month as Barnsley Live returned once again.
Hundreds of acts performed at more than 20 venues in a bid to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service.
Despite some patches of rain, residents came together as they always do to support the cause.
Acts such as Frida and Jake EB were on hand to perform.
After some more fundraising after the event, more than £8,000 was raised through the event.
