Chief reporter JACK TOLSON looks back to June 2001 to see what was making the news in Barnsley 25 years ago ...
COUNCIL CLEAN-UP SQUADS TARGET TOWN STREETS
A SQUAD of council workers has started cleaning up Barnsley’s streets.
The Neighbourhood Pride schemes have been set up to blast graffiti off walls, rip weeds from the pavement and rid the streets of litter.
The ten squads have received more than 300 requests for help from the public already.
More than 60 are working on the streets including 20 trainees in partnership with charity Groundwork Dearne Valley.
Grounds maintenance manager Derek Williams said: “We are delighted by the level of response from communities across Barnsley.
“A great deal of litter has already been removed and jobs such as graffiti from a flyover have helped to improve the appearance of certain areas.
“As we enter the growing season of lot of the teams’ work will now focus on shrub bed maintenance, weed control and footpath spraying.”
He added that improving the street environment was high on the list of priorities of many who took part in the council’s community planning exercise last summer.
CABBIES HOPING FOR FUNDS IN THE SUN FROM THEIR GREEK ADVENTURE
A GROUP of cabbies realised they never got to drive long journeys in their trade - so decided to motor non-stop to Crete.
The four Barnsley lads will travel to the Greek island on June 16, grabbing a few hours’ sleep in the back seat between shifts at the wheel.
Dave Hutcheon and Gary Bray from Kendray, Kevin O’Dwyer from Wombwell and Mark Cocks from Shafton will cruise through ten countries in just ten days to raise money for Barnsley Hospice.
Dave said: “It was a joke to start with.
“One day 12 months ago all we had done all day was drive to the Metrodome and Asda, lots of really short runs.
“We thought it would be nice to have a good long run, so we said let’s go to Crete.
“At first we were going to go through Yugoslavia, but we didn’t fancy dodging bullets so we opted for a different one.”
MUSICAL DIRECTOR BRASSED OFF WITH SHORTAGE OF TROMBONISTS
WANTED - someone with lots of guff to play the trombone.
Finding a trombonist has been a problem for the Dodworth Phoenix Band since 1997.
Musical director Eric Jessop says ever since they formed they have had no-one to play the traditional instrument.
“Trombonists are like hen’s teeth,” he said.
“They just can’t be found and it’s leaving a gap in our band that we are desperate to fill.
“We’ve probably had a couple who have come along and done it for a few weeks but then they’ve gone.
“I’ve even tried enticing local trombone players out of retirement but to no avail.”
