Chief reporter Jack Tolson delves into the Chronicle Archives of April 1999

EURO-CASH WILL BRING BACK JOBS

A FIVE-YEAR campaign to rid Barnsley of its label as one of the poorest towns in Europe has finally paid off - to the turn of around £750m.

Since the mid-1990s Barnsley has led to push to alleviate poverty in South Yorkshire.

But cynics said it could never be done; that the region would never get its share of the vast continental cash pot.

However, European heads of state met in Berlin and decided differently.

They awarded South Yorkshire the status of an Objective One county.

It means that over the next ten years Barnsley’s average wealth should slowly start rising from its current meagre level of just two thirds of the European average.

If funding is matched by the private sector and other sources, the amount could eventually rise to £1.8bn.

Barnsley Council leader Steve Houghton has been one of the leading lights in pushing for the money.

He said: “When we first started fighting for this, people said we’d never make it.

“Now, years on, here we are and it’s fantastic news for Barnsley.”

VERA TAKES MUM OF THE YEAR TITLE

EVERYONE thinks their mum is the best but Vera Brookes has been officially named Mum of the Year.

Vera was nominated by her family because she has dedicated her life to supporting them and caring for sick relatives.

The competition was run by the Chronicle and the Alhambra Centre and Vera won a makeover by Clarins, hairstyle by Charlie’s Hair Salon, an outfit from Select and a portrait photograph by Portfolio Studio.

A surprise gift from Andrew Taylor of Charlie’s Hair Salon was a champagne meal for two at Ardsley House.

COUPLE ARE STARS OF TV PROGRAMME

TV bosses were so impressed with a Barnsley’s couple work in the community, they made a programme about them.

Mark and Michelle Brown will be featured on TV screens nationwide when they appear on the programme Sunday Worship.

Anglia Television spent an afternoon and evening filming the couple, both aged 29, as they worked with youngsters in Dodworth Road and Racecommon Road.

The couple were chosen to appear on the programme after TV bosses read about them in a Church of England publication.

Mark said: “They wanted three or four people from around the country who had a high Christian profile and were working in the community.

“They filmed me as I was chatting to young people and asking them what they needed and wanted in Barnsley then they spent the evening filming the kids’ club which we run at St George’s Church.”