GEORGE Steele was a member of Barnsley Auxiliary Fire Service during the early 1940s.

It was an arduous job as all the members were on call and had to be available for duty 24 hours a day.

George also worked at the Barnsley British Co-operative Society as a butcher for many years. He enjoyed joining in any sporting activities which took place within the company, especially cricket. His son, John Steele, has loaned to the Chronicle photographs of his father in his fire service uniform and in his cricketing gear when he played in a Co-op departmental cricket match with his work colleagues.

The match took place at the former Co-op Sports’ ground near to Oakwell where the Barnsley FC Academy ground is now situated. The players, decked out in their top hats and fancy waistcoats, all appear to be enjoying themselves. They are named as follows: back row, Harry White, Eric Binns, Alan Edwards, Frank Pickering, A Allan, A Barber. Front row: Guy Poole, Derrick Heald, Alf Pettitt, George Steele, Harry Gelder.

On a more serious note, George (second from the right) is also seen with his fire service colleagues. His son, John, who would have been only four or five years old at the time, is having a bit of fun playing on the extending ladder attached to be fire hydrant which is in the background.

Another photograph of the firemen is believed to have been taken near to Tinkers Pond where the men used to practise their fire-fighting skills. On this photograph George, who lived in Coniston Road, Barnsley, is second from the right.