Chief reporter JACK TOLSON delves into the Chronicle Archives of May 1996...
IT’S SERVICE WITH A SMILE FROM BINMEN
A GROUP of Barnsley binmen are learning how to turn on the charm to deal with problem householders.
They are among a group of 14 - among them road sweepers and drivers - who have volunteered for special customer care classes.
If it is a success it will be offered to all of the department’s 160 staff.
Cleaning services manager Andy Browell said: “Our refuse collectors are in the front line of council services, dealing with people at first hand every day.
“Any problems they have, they seek answers from the collectors.
“The refuse collection service is undergoing a period of great change at the moment and change can upset householders.
“So our men need to be in a position to recognise to recognise how householders feel and how to explain the situation to them.
“It’s all about good communication and helping them to do their jobs more effectively.
“To many people, the binmen are the council.
“Occasionally they do come across angry householders and they are being trained how to deal with that.”
ROTARY IN SUCCESSFUL ROCKET LAUNCH
IT WAS second time lucky for a rotary club when it reached for the stats on Sunday.
Their two-foot long metal rocket made a successful launch from Stainborough Cricket Club - a few days after another launch went wrong.
PRO Paul Hayward kept the crowds, who had paid to watch the pioneer launch, safely away from the launch pad as navigator John Atkinson pressed the red button for take off.
The rocket soared hundreds of feet into the air, successfully ditching the extra fuel tank and then landed on the edge of the cricket field.
An earlier trial run on a recreation ground at Lundwood went wrong when the rocket broke up in the air.
The rocket cap has still not been found.
John said: “We searched for two hours for the missing part but it is now probably gracing the mantelpiece of someone’s home.”
Paul said: “No other rotary club has ever had a rocket launch and we thought this would be a good way to get the new Stainborough Rotary Club noticed.”
WATER BABY WITH LIFE-SAVING AMBITIONS
RUTH Hemsworth is learning how to become a qualified lifeguard - at the age of eight.
Ruth, of Stairfoot, is the youngest swimmer to take on the challenging course in Barnsley.
But that is hardly surprising when she started swimming when she was only three.
Ruth, who is also the smallest in the class at Wombwell Baths, has already scooped her gold, silver and bronze awards along the way.
Proud mum Gillian said: “She has loved water ever since she was tiny and is really determined to become a qualified lifeguard.
“I’m sure she will succeed.”
